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MEMOIRS
REV. WALTER M. LOWRIE,
MISSIONARY TO CHINA
EDITED BY HIS FATHER.
NEW YORK:
ROBERT CARTER & BROTHERS, 285 BROADWAY.
PHILADELPHIA: WILLIAM S. MARTIEN.
1849.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1849,
BY WALTER LOWRIE,
In the Clerk's Office for the Southern District of New York.
STEREOTYPED BY THOMAS B. SMITH,
21G WILLIAM STREET, N. Y.
PREFACE.
The Editor of this Memoir has done little more than to select
and arrange the papers of his beloved son. A few remarks have
been made with the view of noticing his early years, and connect-
ing the different periods of his short but active and not unvaried
life. The plan ado[)ted was to let him speak for himself in his letters
and journals ; though some letters from his missionary brethren,
and others in the ministry at home, who knew him, have been
given at the end of the volume. From these every reader will form
his own estimate of his character and acquirements. A few of the
many letters from Christian friends, as the sad intelligence of his
death reached them, have also been inserted.
His letters for the most part were hastily written, many of them
in the confidence of Christian and endeared friendship. His jour-
nals also were written at the dates mentioned, and his other en-
gagements gave him no time to correct or copy them.
Two volumes of private journals were found after his death
among his papers ; but they were destroyed, in accordance with his
special written request to his friend Rev. M. J. Culbertson, or either
of his surviving colleagues.
The work has been stereotyped, and the entire expense of
this edition has been defrayed by Christian friends, to whom his
memory is very dear. Whatever profit may arise from the sale
will be applied to the enlargement of the Ningpo mission, under
the care of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian
Church.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
FEBRUARY, 1819— SEPTEMBER, 1847,
EARLY LIFE AND COURSE AT COLLEGE.
LETTERS.
Pag-e
ffie Father.
Religious Impressions,
. 3
u
Revival in College, .
. 5
u
First Communion,
. 7
Ifis Mother.
Religious Views,
. 7
His Father.
Duty as to the Ministry, .
. 8
<i
Religious Views,
. 10
His Mother. Foreign Missions. Death of
Lyman and Monson, .
" Feelings. A Grave- Yard,
His Father. Duty as to Foreign Missions,
" The Question decided,
" Through College. Grade,
Page
12
13
15
16
17
CHAPTER II.
OCTOBER, 1837— JANUARY, 1842.
RETURN HOME FROM COLLEGE. — COURSE IN THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AT
PRINCETON. — ACCEPTED AS A FOREIGN MISSIONARY. — SAILS FOR CHINA.
LETTERS.
John Lloyd. College Times. Missions, . 20
Roger Owen. On Sabbath Schools, . . 23
John Lloyd. Swartz. Comfort in Christ, . 24
Roger Owen. On Sabbath Schools, . . 26
His Mother. Daily Employments, . . 28
Roger Owen. Sabbath Schools. Missions, . 28
His Mother. Christian Duties. Studies, . 30
John M. Lowrie. Death of Relatives, . . 32
John Lloyd. Persoaal Religion, . . .32
Roger Owen. Tone of College Piety, . . 34
John Lloyd. Love of Christ. Missions, . 35
Roger Owen. Sabbath Schools, . . .36
John Lloyd. Western Africa, . . .37
His Mother. Seminary Students, . . .38
John Lloyd. Africa. India. China, . . 39
His Mother. Beauty of Scripture, . . 40
Thomas W. Kerr. Missionary Spirit, . . 41
John M. Lowrie. Study of the Bible, . . 41
John Lloyd. Christian Course. Africa, . 42
Two Sabbath School Scholars, ... 45
His Mother. Strangers and Pilgrims, . . 49
John Lloyd. Studies. Works of God, . . 50
His Mother. Journey to the West, . . 50
Executive Committee. Missions, . . .51
John Lloyd. Friendship. Prospects, . . 52
John O. Procter. How little we know, . 53
His Mother. The Country. Journey, . . 54
His Father. Change of Field to China, . 56
His Mother. Detroit. Forest. Flowers. Ni-
agara. Grave-yard. Missions, 57
" Journey West 63
Wm. H. Hornblower. Presence of Christ, . 64
John O. Procter. On leaving for China, . 65
John Lloyd. Feelings. Faith, . . . 66
Mrs. Ann Porter. On leaving Friends, . . 68
Rev. Thos. W. Kerr. Sabbath Schools, . 68
John M. Lowrie. On the Eve of Sailing, . 70
CHAPTER III.
JANUARY 19— MAY 27, 1849.
VOYAGE TO CHINA. — JOURNAL IN THE HUNTRESS.
Parting from Friends, 71
Sea Sickness, 72
A Gale. Pleasant Days, 73
Carlyle. Sermon on board, .... 77
Reading. Wisdom of God. Starp, . . 79
Sermon. Trade Winds. Flying-Fish, . . 81
Trade Winds. The Sabbath, ... 84
Studies. A Shark. Birth-day, . . . S5
A Calm. Sunsets. Sailors, .... 87
Stars. The Sailmaker, 89
Rocks of Martin Vas. Stars, ... 91
Magellan Clouds. Missions, ... 93
A Squall. The Ocean. Home, ... 95
A Sailor. The Ocean. A Gale. Albatross, 97
Stormy Petrels. A Storm. Winds, . . 101
A Ship. Dreams. Trade Winds, . . 105
VI
CONTENTS.
Sabbath. Preaching to Sailors,
Bain. Sea Gnats. Thunder,
An bland. Boobies. Java,
Heathen. Ships. Angier, .
PaRc I Page
109 Angier. Malays. Learned Sailor, . . 121
111 China Sea. Missions. Preaching, . . 123
113 Sailmaker. Gales. China, .... 126
117 I To his Mother, with his Journal, ... 129
CHAPTER IV.
1842.
LANDING IN CHINA. — VOYAGE IN THE SEA QUEEN. — SHIPWRECK IN THE HARMONY.-
RETURN TO MACAO.
LETTERS AND JOURNALS.
His Mother. Macao. Hong Kong,
His Father. China. Missions, .
John Lloyd. Mission to China, .
His Mother. China Sea. Journal,
Embarks. Lascars. Alone,
Calms. Monsoon. Currents. Gale,
Delays. Currents. Storms. Faith,
Providence. The Parting, .
Course of the Sea Queen,
John M. Lowrie. Studies at Sea,
Rev. T. L. McBryde. Plana delayed,
131
134
138
140
141
146
151
15.1
156
157
158
His Mother. Scenes in Manila, . . . 160
Rev. Thos. W. Kerr. Stay in Manila, . 161
His Brother. Voyage on China Sea, . . 162
Shipwreck in the Harmony, . . . . 165
To the Second Presbytery of New York, . 178
His Mother. Missionary Trials, . . . 182
His Father. First Letter from Home, . 184
His Mother. Letters from Home, . . 184
James Lenox, Esq. Romanists in China, . 185
His Father. Early Instruction, . . . 187
John Lloyd. Missions in China, . . . 188
CHAPTER V.
1843.
RESIDENCE IN MACAO. — VOYAGE UP THE COAST. — DESCRIPTION OF AMOY AND
CHANG-CHOW. — RETURN TO MACAO.
LETTERS AND JOURNALS.
Rev. J. M. Lowrie. Missions in China,
His Mother. Various Thoughts, .
" Home. Heaven. Sabbath,
John Lloyd. Chinese Language,
His Father. Effects of Heat. Preaching. Chi-
nese Dictionary,
Journal to Amoy and Chusan,
Boat Population. Hong Kong,
Opium. Amoy. Infanticide,
Grave of Mrs. Boone. Monsoon,
Opium. Kulangsu,
Budhist Temple, .
River. Bay. Boats,
Chang-Chow. Mandarins, .
The City. Bridges. Temples,
Villages, Multitudes, .
193
194
196
198
202
203
204
206
210
212
214
215
218
223
227
Chobey. Haetnng. Return to Amoy, . 229
Remarks on the foregoing, .... 231
Return. .Sturm. Danger, .... 234
Good News from Home, .... 236
Death of Rev. Mr. Dyer, .... 237
To his Father. Morrison's Bible, . . 238
" Missionary Trials, . . 241
His Brother. Perils of the Sea, ... 245
Society of Inquiry, Western Theological
Seminary, 246
His Father. Missionary Statements, . . 251
His Mother. Chinese Customs, . . . 252
Society of Inquiry, Princeton Theological
Seminary, 254
His Father. Sir Henr>' Pottinger's censure
of the Visit to Chang-Chow, . . ,261
CHAPTER VI.
1844.
RESIDENCE IN MACAO, — LETTERS, — CHINESE PRINTING WITH METAL TYPE.-
ARRIVAL OF NEW MISSIONARIES. THEIR FIELDS OF LABOR.
His Mother. Sabbath-breaking, . . . 267
« His Teacher. Idolatry, . . 268
His Father. Chinese Letter, with Transla-
tion and Notes, 270
John Lloyd. Christian Friendship, . . 274
His Mother. Passing Thoughts, . . .275
His Father. To visit China. A Solemn
Question by his Teacher, , , . . 276
Rev. Levi Janvier. China Missions, . , 277
Recollections of a Missionary, , , , 279
Rev. J. M. Lowrie. English Preaching, . 283
Rev, J, Montgomery. Trials, . . , 284
CONTENTS.
VU
CHAPTER VII.
1845.
DIFFERENT MISSIONS ESTABLISHED. — LEAVES MACAO. — VOYAGE UP THE COAST.-
NINGPO. CHINESE WRITTEN AND SPOKEN LANGUAGE.
LETTERS AND JOURNALS.
His Father. Leaves Macao,
Voyage up the Coast. Changes,
Monsoon. Currents. Sailors,
Shanghai. Woosung. Chusan,
Books injured. Tinghae,
Ningpo. City. Country,
Chinese Dinner. Idol Worship,
Opium. Festival of all the Gods,
Suicide,. Proverljs. Idols, .
Monks. God of Thunder,
Mrs. Hepburn. Love of Christ,
287
2a3
291
293
296
298
303
305
308
310
313
His Father. Written and Spoken Language
of China 315
His Mother. Psalm xxx. 5, . . . .323
His Father. Various Thoughts, . . .334
Leaves from the Note- Book, . . . 325
Tower of Ningpo. Rice, .... 328
Visit to Teentung, 330
Visit to Pooto, 334
Wedding. Females. Teacher, . . . 341
Society of Inquiry, Princeton Theol. Sem., . 343
His Father. Chinese Ignorance, . . . 348
" Chinese Translations, . . 349
CHAPTER VIII.
1846.
MISSIONARY LABORS AT NINGPO. — HEATHEN CUSTOMS. WORSHIP. — SUPERSTITIOUS
FEARS. — PREACHING IN CHINESE.
LETTERS AND JOURNALS.
His Mother. Deaths. New Year, . . 352
" Plan of House, . . . 354
Rev. Levi Janvier. Writing Letters, . . 3^6
His Father. The Millennium, . . .357
Rev. D. Wells. Prayer, . . . .359
Rev. John Lloyd. Chinese Tones, . . 359
His Father. The Heat. Teachers, . . 362
His Brother. Superstitions, . . . 365
His Mother. Changes 366
His Father. Shin. Shang te, . . . 366
His Mother. Reminiscences, . . . 367
His Father. Chinese Dictionary, . . . 369
James Lenox, Esq. Music. Cuts. Return
of Missionaries, 370
■ His Father. Preaching. Chinese Books.
Dictionary, 374
' Rev. John Lloyd. Religion, . . . 376
Report of the Ningpo Mission, . . . 379
The Use of Engravings, .... 386
His Brother. The Millennium, . . . 388
Journal. Fear of Poisoning, . . . 391
! Rains. Drought. Heat, .... 392
' Fear of Evil Spirits, ... . 395
Earthquake. Suspicions, . , , . 396
Chinese Pleaching. Cruelty, . . . 399
Marriage Ceremony, 401
! Fruit Pedler. Chinese Preaching, . . 403
I Chinese Audience, 405
CHAPTER IX.
1847.
MISSIONARY LABORS AT NINGPO. — VOYAGE TO SHANGHAI. — MANCHU LANGUAGE. —
CHINESE TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE. — IMPORTANCE OF SELECTING PROPER
TERMS.
LETTERS AND JOURNALS.
His Brother. Chinese Language, . . 408
His Father. Type. Dictionary, . . .409
Rev. Levi Janvier. Trials. Preaching, . 410
His Mother. Labors. Loneliness, . . 412
His Father. Books. Millennium. Shorter
Catechism, 413
On the Minutes of the General Assembly of
1846, 416
His Father. Translation of the Bible. Na-
tive Convert, 420
His Mother. Heathen Procession, . . 422
Journal. Preaching. Incidents, . . . 426
The Sabbath. Changing Audience, . . 428
Chinese Language. Dogs, .... 431
Various Questions. Inquirers, . . . 432
Worship of Ancestors, 434
Voyage to Shanghai, 4.35
Chinhai. Commerce. Chapoo, . . . 436
Canal. The Sabbath. Shanghai, . . 437
His Father. Chapoo. Dictionary, . . 438
His Mother. Health, 440
His Brother. On the proper Translation of
the word God, 441
Rev. Joseph Owen. Same subject, . ! 443
His Father. Manchu Language, . . . 443
On the real Trials of the Foreign Mis^onaryj 445
VIU
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER X.
LETTERS PROM MISSIONARIES AND OTHERS, ON THE DEATH AND CHARACTER OF
THE REV. W. M. LOWRIE.
Rev. A. W. Loomis,
Right Rev. W. J. Boone, D.D.,
Resolutions of the Canton Mission,
Rev. John Lloyd, .
Rev. T. L. McBryde,
Rev. Thomas McClatchie.
Rev. E. W. Syle, .
Rev. .Joseph Owen,
Rev. John Wray, .
Rev. Levi Janvier,
Rev. James Wilson,
Rev. James B. Ramsey,
Rev. R. M. Loughridge,
Rev. John Layton Wilson,
Rev. James Read Eckard,
Rev. John O. Procter, .
Page
456
458
462
463
465
466
467
469
471
472
473
475
475
476
477
478
Rev. John M. Lowrie, .
Rev. Charles Hodge, D.D., •
Rev. Samuel Miller, D.D., .
Rev. John A. Savage, .
Rev. Joseph H. Jones, D.D., .
Rev. Wm. S. Plumer, D.D., .
Joseph P. Engles, Esq.,
Rev. Wm. M. Atkinson, D.D.,
Rev. W. H. Foote, D.D.,
Rev. Wm. C. Anderson, D.D.,
Rev. Loyal Young,
Rev. John N. Campbell, D.D.,
Mrs. A. H. Richardson, .
Right Rev. George Smith,
Sunday Thoughts of a Layman,
Rev. A. Alexander, D.D.,
Cenotaph, ....
Pag«
479
481
482
483
483
484
485
486
487
488
488
489
490
491
493
496
501
MEMOIR.
CHAPTER I.
1819—1837.
EARLY LIFE LETTERS WHILE IN COLLEGE.
Walter Macon Lowrie, the third son of Walter and Amelia
liOwrie, was born in Butler, Penn., on the 18th of February,
1819. Until his eighth year, his father was absent from home
during the winter months. This left the principal part of liis
early training and education to his excellent mother, and well and
faithfully did she perform this responsible and sacred trust. From
his infancy he possessed a mild and cheerful temper. He was a
general favorite with his playmates, and always ready to engage
in the usual sports of the play-ground. It was often the subject
of remark, that he was never known to get into a quarrel, or even
an angry dispute with his associates. To his parents he was al-
ways obedient and kind, open and ingenuous ; he was never
known to use deception or falsehood. His brothers and sisters
shared his warmest affection and love, and his time with them
seemed to be made up of pure enjoyment.
At an early period he was sent to school, where he learned the
usual branches of a common Enghsh education. It was soon
perceived by his teachers, that it required but little effort on his
part to get the lessons assigned to him ; and the place he usually oc-
cupied was at the head of the class. In his tenth year his pa-
rents removed to Washington city, and for a part of the year he
was taught by his father in the higher rules of arithmetic, in
geography, and ancient and modern history. In his eleventh and
twelfth years, he spent two terms under an able teacher in a clas-
sical grammar school.
At this period the health of his beloved mother was gradually
declining, and her physicians advised that she should spend the
1
» MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
summers in Pennsylvania, and the winters in Washington. In
these circumstances it was deemed best that Walter, although not
fourteen years of age, should be sent to Jefferson College. Two
of his brothers had already graduated at that college, and his fa-
ther was well acquainted with the president and the professors.
A home was found for hira in the family of the Rev. Professor
Kennedy, who watched over him with a parent's care. The same
montli in which he reached the college, in November, 1832, he re-
ceived the sad intelligence of his dear mother's death. Most
deeply did he feel this severe bereavement, and bitterly did he
mourn over the loss of one so \'«ry dear to him. The account of
her calm and peaceful departure, full of faith and trust in her Sa-
viour, which he soon afterwards received, whilst it made a deep
impression on his mind, tended much to relieve the bitterness of
his grief After spending a year in the preparatory department,
he entered the freshman class in October, 1833, and continued in
the college, with some interruptions for relaxation, till he gradua-
ted in September, 1837.
In the summer of 1834, he was at home from the first of August
till the last of October. His father was somewhat apprehensive in
regard to his health, and believed that some relaxation from his stu-
dies would be of service, even if it should require him to spend ano-
ther year in the college. He retained his place in the class, how-
ever, and kept up with the usual studies without difficulty. The
family were then spending the summer in Butler. Here he first met
with his second mother, and he seemed almost at once to transfer
to her the affection he had entertained for his own mother. Nor
was this a transient feeling. His affection and deep respect and
esteem for her continued till his lamented death, as the letters
and journals addressed to her will abundantly show.
During this visit he accompanied his parents and one of his
brothers, and a sister in declining health, to the falls of Niagara.
He greatly enjoyed the company of his friends on this journey,
and was filled with wonder and awe at the stupendous displays
of God's power in this mighty cataract. He accompanied the
family to Washington, and was present at the calm and peaceful
death of his beloved sister, in the last of September, 1834. In
November he returned to the college, his health much improved
by his temporary absence.
Soon after his return, that seminary and the neighborhood were
blessed with a precious and powerful revival of religion. Many
LETTERS WHILE IN COLLEGE. 6
of the students in the college, and laige numhers in the congregations
of that region, were added to the church. Most of these students
afterwards entered the ministry. The history of this revival and
its subsequent results, if they were written, would show how im-
portant a period of life is the college coUrse of every student.
Probably the attention and the prayers of the church have been
too little turned towards her young men in the different colleges.
The remark will be generally found true, that " as is the piety of
the student in college, so will it be in the theological seminary, and
in the ministry."
In this revival, after a time of deep conviction of sin, he ob-
tained a hope of peace with God in the Saviour. He was then in his
sixteenth year, and his letters from this period show the state of
his mind, as he became more and more instructed in Christian
experience and warfare. With a number of the students who
were admitted to full communion in the church at the same time,
he formed a most endeared and lasting friendship, and with many
of these he kept up a correspondence till his death.
Canonsburg, December 31st, 1.834.
My Dear Father —
I would have \\'ritten to you yesterday to tell you my state of
mind, but I thought I had best wait a while, to see whether what
I wanted to tell you was really true. I can now, however, as I
humbly trust, say that I have experienced the love of Christ shed
abroad in my soul, and the renewing and sanctifying influences of
the Holy Spirit. I have not, it is true, those high exciting joys
that many others speak of, nor have I had those deep and pungent
convictions of sin that others have. But I can say, that though I
as yet see but little of Christ, and of his exceeding love to me in
my lost and ruined condition, yet what little I do see, fills me with
love and peace, and an earnest desire to see more and more of
Him, and to lay myself down and give up my soul at the foot of
his cross.
How this feeling originated I can scarcely tell. On Monday, I
was deeply impressed with the necessity of being assured of sal-
vation that day, but I had not found any reason to believe I had
obtained it. After sermon there was an inquiry meeting, and Mr.
Deruelle conversed very kindly with me ; patiently set himself to
remove any doubts and difficulties, and told me that all I had to
do was to give up all hopes in anything that I could do, in the way
of prayers or resolutions, and just trust in Christ. He spoke so
confidently and cheerfully, tliat I thought perhaps I might be
saved. After he was gone, a young acquaintance, also under se-
rious impressions, and much distressed, came and entered into con-
4 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
versation with me. During the course of this conversation, which
was entirely about Christ and his promises to all who come to
him, I felt my heart warming, and full of love and zeal for Christ.
Shortly after a hymn was given out, and I attempted to sing it,
but my heart seemed to rush up to my mouth, and I could scarce
refrain fiom laughing out, so much joy did I feel. This feeling
continued till the next morning, and I felt inexpressibly happy ; but
about eight or nine, A. M., I felt that I was again becoming insensi-
ble, and I was greatly perplexed, and knew not what to do. This
feehng increased until about two P. M. There was to be a meeting
of those who had a hope of salvation that evening, and I felt great
doubt as to the propriety of attending. I mentioned this to my
room-mate, who is, I believe, the most pious student about the
college, and he made a few remarks and prayed with me. This
relieved me somewhat, and I attended the meeting.
While there the hymn " Alas ! and did my Saviour bleed," was
sung, and I felt every doubt removed and very joyful. However,
trusting to myself, after a few hours I felt unhappy. I had still
the hope, but had no joy at all, and seemed to myself to be travel-
ling in a path I knew was right, with just sufficient light to show
that it was not the wrong path. I could not see anything at all
before me. In this condition I remained. This morning I had a
little more light, and now I can see a little. I hope and trust that
the light will increase " more and more unto the perfect day." I
feel peaceful, and willing to commit myself to my Saviour, to do
with me just as he pleases. I desire to have no will of my own,
but to depend entirely upon him, for everything. Still, however, I
have great need of humility. Pride is my besetting sin, and I
fear that my course will be marked with many rebellions, and much
distress on account of this sin. It has grown with my growth and
strengthened with my strength, and will no doubt be employed
by Satan to bring about my ruin. May God keep and preserve
me from it ! I have also much need of faith. In this I am wo-
fully defective, and when the hour of trial comes, I fear much.
It is my earnest prayer that I may have more faith and more hu-
mility.
I may be deceived in the whole matter, and if I should, I know
not what shall become of me ; but it is my earnest prayer, that if
so, I may be vmdeceived. and led in the way everlasting. I now,
my dear father, need your prayers and counsels more than ever ;
for I feel greatly my need of some experienced Christian, who
knows me as well as you do, to direct me.
There have been a considerable number here, who hope they
have experienced a change of heart : how many I cannot say.
As yet, we cannot speak certainly as to any of them ; and there
is great need of prudence in speaking and writing about such
things, so as to avoid bringing disgrace upon the holy religion of
Jesus. That the S|)irit of God is here, every one will admit ; but
the result is known only to the searcher of the hearts, and trier of
LETTERS WHILE IN COLLEGE. 5
the reins of the children of men. We would hope and pray that
these "mercy drops" may be succeeded by a great shower, and
that the influence of this may extend to all parts, not only of ihe
Synod of Pittsburg, but of our country ; and that its influence
may be felt to the remotest corners of the earth. There is noth-
ing too hard for the Lord, and we may reasonably expect that, by
prayer and faith, every student of this college may become a ser-
vant of Christ. We are told to ask and it shall be given, seek
and we shall find, and that if we '• open our mouths wide," the
Lord will "fill them." O father, pray for this college.
It is, of course, too soon for me to think as yet of my future
profession ; but this will, if it be true, make a great ditference
in my choice. There is a great deal in deciding quickly and
soon, and then making everything tend to that one object.
I remain your aflfectionate son in the Lord,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Canonshurg, January 6th, 1835.
My Dear Father —
I received your kind letter of Dec. 31st, yesterday, and can truly
say that I never perused a letter with greater pleasure than that
one, both on account of its intrinsic excellence, and also because it
afforded me the strongest proof that you cared as much and
more for my soul than for my body. You Avill have heard be-
fore now that I have been enabled to give myself to the blessed
Jesus. Nor have I repented of the choice. I can truly say that
during the past week, I have felt a greater amount of real, calm
peace and joy, than I ever felt in all my life. It is true, I am not
without doubts and fears, and I have several times been inclined
to doubt, whether I ever did experience a saving change of heart.
But, having carefully, and I trust prayerfully, applied every test in
my power to- examine the sincerity of my heart, 1 am enabled to
say, though still with "fear and trembling," that "Jesus is mine
and I am his." My particular views of Christ, though very in-
complete, are that He is one " altogether lovely ;" a " Lamb with-
out spot or blemish ;" that he is holy, just, and good, beyond all
ideas which mortals can form of those attributes. My views of
God, the Father, are, that he is one who dwells in " light inac-
cessible, and full of glory ;" who while he looks with hatred upon
sin, is nevertheless, by the intercession of the blessed Saviour and
his death on the cross, perfectly willing to love and protect all who
come to him by his son. Of God, the Holy Ghost, I have so in-
definite an idea that I cannot express it ; it is like " the wind that
bloweth, and we hear the sound thereof, and cannot tell whence
it Cometh or whither it goeth."
As you may, perhaps, wish to hear some accounts of the rise
and progress of this revival, I give this short account of it. On
last Thursday, two weeks ago, which was a fast day for the Synod
6 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
of Pittsburg, there was preaching, and one or two were awakened.
There was preaching also on Saturday, but still it was not known
to many that anything was going on. Sabbath was sacrament
day. On Sabbath night, Mr. Deruelle delivered a most eloquent
and powerful sermon. I paid very little attention to it at the time,
and do not now remember the text ; but he described in a very
forcible manner, the joys of heaven and the terrors of hell. This
awakened some ; and I believe that it was a remark made to me
the next day, that it was a sermon calculated to excite thought at
least, that made me think about it. On Monday there was preach-
ing, and those who were anxious Avere requested to stay for con-
versation. I was anxious to do so, but was ashamed and did not ;
there were, however, some who did. Encouraged by this and by
the number who attended. Dr. Brown determined to have a pro-
tracted meeting.- The numl^er of anxious inquirers increased at
every meeting, but for two or three or more days, there were but
one or two hopeful conversions. This was mentioned, and Chris-
tians were invited to pray for converting grace. In about four
days there were one or two of the students who were awakened,
and had yielded themselves to Christ. Of the citizens there are
yet, I believe, but a small proportion, about one third, who have
obtained a hope. Some have gone back to the world, others are
wavering, and until lately the work seemed to dechne. Now it is
a little on the increase, but not as much as could be wished.
There are, I suppose, at least thirty of ihe students who have ob-
tained a hope in Christ, probably twelve or fifteen who have gone
back, and about ten who are yet lingering. Of the citizens, prob-
ably twenty have obtained a hope, and there are as many as thirty
or forty who are yet in suspense. This night will probably be the
last of these meetings. Mr. Deruelle, who has labored faithfully,
and under God with much success here, is going away. There
have been no other methods of proceeding adopted than preaching
and conversation ; but these have been blessed by the Holy Spirit.
None can make objections of any force, because there were
no improper means used, and the old version of the Psalms was
used at the meetings. Every one confesses that the work is of
God and not of man ; and if not wofuUy deceived, many souls
will to all eternity bless God for this revival. I shall finish this
letter after the meeting this evening.
January 7th. I was prevented from finishing this last night, by
the lateness of the hour when meeting was over. It is not the
intention now of Dr. Brown to discontinue these meetings; there
will be preaching to-night as usual, and for some time yet.
I am your affectionate son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
LETTERS WHILE IN COLLEGE.
Cmionsburg, March 9th, 1835.
My Dear Father —
As Congress has now adjourned, I suppose you will have more
time for writing than you have heretofore had. Since I wrote
last, I have enjoyed my usual health. Yesterday the Lord's Sup-
per was celebrated here. There were fifty-eight who joined the
church here ; thirty-seven students and twenty-one citizens. It
was a pleasant day to me, though I had not as pleasant a time
as I sometimes have, owing I suppose to my ignorance of the
nature of the ordinance, or rather to my too selfish feelings. —
When I look back ten weeks, and contrast my present condition
with what it was then, I feel a strange sensation of wonder. To
think that a change so great, (for I feel it to be a great change,
and I hope it is genuine,) should be effected in so comparatively
short a time, is strange. One of those who joined at the same
time, a daughter of the Rev. Mr. , was only ten years old.
Her religious experience, however, was very satisfactory to the
Session. Whether there will be any more outpouring of the Holy
Spirit here, I cannot tell. I hope and endeavor to pray that there
may be, but it seems as if we were all like rocks : at least, I feel
myself to be so. A hard heart, I think, is one of the most un-
pleasant things that a Christian has to deal with on earth. The
150th hymn in the Assembly's Collection, exactly describes the
feelings which I frequently have on this subject.
I remam your affectionate son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
CanonsbuTg; August 5th, 1835.
My Dear Mother —
You may remember the first letter you wrote to me after the
29th December ; I have not got it by me, but I can remember the
substance of it. You warned me in it to beware of falling away
from my " first love." At that time I wondered why you should
send me such a warning. I thought there was no danger, and
that it would be impossible for me ever to leave that Saviour, who
had so kindly opened my eyes. Yet even in this short time, has
that case been my own. I have fallen away, and acted very much
indeed as if I had never experienced a hope of Christ's love to me.
I left my first love, and for about two months preceding and after
my visit home, I had no enjoyment in religion. I had not fallen
so far as to silence the voice of conscience, or as not to know that
I had in some measure fallen. Such was my case when at home.
True, there were times, even then, when I had as nuich freedosn
in prayer as ever ; and the day of the sacrament I had as much
pleasure in religion as I have had this session.
I have now the hope that I am restored. I now feel, in some
respects, as I did when first the light of truth shone in upon my
8 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
soul, and I have a more heart-affecting view of myself Rejoice
with me, my mother, that God has not cast me off from him for-
ever, as I justly deserved, and as would have been perfectly con-
sistent with his glory, mercy, and justice. How I was restored T
can hardly tell. For two weeks past, I have felt very differently
from what I did all session, and yesterday and to-day I feel some,
though, alas ! very httle, of the joy of him whose sin is pardoned
by his God. O for a tongue to speak my Redeemer's praise, and
to proclaim to the world what he has done for my soul ! Surely,
O surely, such love was never manifested as the love of Christ !
Why is it that we cannot love him more, and love him always?
And yet I am very much afraid I shall not long continue in this
state. I am afraid I shall fall, and yet bring open disgrace upon
my profession. Pray for me, my dear parents, and give your
counsels.
Yours affectionately,
W, M. LOWRIE,
Jefferson College, August 10th, 1835.
My Dear Father —
I wrote to mother and brother Matthew, a short time ago,
yet as I have something in regard to which I would wish to ask
your advice, and as, probably, you are now as much at leisure as
you will be before next summ,er, I have concluded to write to you.
I do not know whether I have ever before mentioned this subject
to you, but it is one which has often employed my thoughts, and
of late particularly — it is this : Whether it is my duty to be a
minister of the gospel ? My principal reason for now writing to
you is, to ask your advice in regard to this one point, viz., whether
I should enter on the examination of this subject, with the view
of coming to a definite conclusion this session, or, at farthest, be-
fore the close of the year ; or whether I should put off the imme-
diate examination of the point till a future period.
Each of these may have its advantages. The principal reasons
why I should now come to a determination are these : 1st. What-
ever profession 1 may choose, if I now decide concerning it, I may
lay my mind more ardently to being prepared for it and for use-
fulness : I may the more readily make all my other pursuits sub-
servient to this. This I consider a principal reason. 2nd. A
reason, flowing from the first, why I now should determine, is,
that if I should decide to be a minister, it may conduce to personal
piety and a closer walk with God. These are two of the principal
reasons why I should now determine.
On the other hand, it may be objected — 1st. My youth : my
judgment is not capable of deciding so important a question. 2nd.
My inexperience of my own self and of others, and of the duties
required of me in that high station to which I aspire. 3rd. The
fickleness of my temper ; and 4th. Circumstances may occur
LETTERS WHILE IN COLLEGE. Sf
which will render it obligatory on me to change my views. I do
not consider the last much of an objection, and I can, I think, get
over the others ; but I should like your advice on this all-impor-
tant subject. I may here mention a couple of plans which have
principally occupied my thoughts on this subject. The first was
— to study for the ministry, and, after being ficensed, to go and
spend my life in the Western States ; neither in the character of a
settled pastor, nor yet in that of an itinerant preacher, but some-
where between them. The other, and one which has almost en-
tirely taken up my mind, is this : after I graduate, to go and
study medicine ; then go to the Theological Seminary and prepare
myself for the ministry ; and then, if in the Providence of God it
may appear my duty, " Go and preach the Gospel to the heathen."
Both of these may be mere romantic creations of the fancy, but. at
present, my inclination is rather in favor of the latter. I may, in
a future letter, state more as to my views on this subject, but, at
present, I would like your advice as to the first point mentioned.
I regard myself just in this light: I profess to be, and hope I
am, a servant of Christ. The command is, " Go work in my
vineyard." After having decided, how I shall work ? — whether
as a minister or otherwise — the next question will be, where ?
I do not consider, that in answering this question, I have a right
to consult my own convenience. May you, my dear father, be
abundantly blessed with the influence of the Holy Spirit, and find
all your children walking in your footsteps, and may we all at
last meet around the throne of God, on his right hand.
Affectionately yours,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Jeffe7^son College^ August 31st, 1835.
Dear Father —
I have delayed answering your last somewhat longer than
usual, but I suppose you know the reason. I have been engaged
in the examination of the subject of the gospel ministry, and have
at length been enabled to decide, at least from present views and
feelings, and with prayer, that it is my duty to devote myself to
the service of God in that jnanner. I cannot say that I have had
many or great difficulties, nor indeed have I that assurance I could
wish to have ; but 1 hope, as my experience increases, that ray
confidence as to my duty will increase in proportion. I may be
deceived, but, as far as I know myself, I am not actuated by un-
worthy motives. I wish I could as certainly say, that I am influ-
enced by a desire for the glory of God ; for it is on that point that
I have, and do yet experience, the greatest difficulty. In other
respects, I hope I can with some confidence say, that, as far as I
know myself, I am not influenced by wrong motives. May God
grant me to know and do my duty.
Your affectionate son, W, M, Lowrie.
10 MEMOIR OF "WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Jefferson College, September 8th, 1835.
My Dear Father, —
I am very sorry you cannot make it convenient to remain in
Butler a few weeks longer, as I should very much wish your
company. It may be all fancy, but something seems to be con-
stantly telling me, when I thuik of you all, " that I must endeavor
to spend as much time with you as I can now, for after I am set- .
tied in life, I shall have very few opportunities of being with you."
And this idea has taken almost complete possession of my mind.
I do not, when I look forward, anticipate nmch temporal pleasure,
or ease ; and perhaps it is as well that I should learn to deny
myself now as at any time ; but still I find an unwillingness to
separate from my thoughts the idea of totally denying myself
your company. However, I hope, that if it ever should be incum-
bent on me, I shall never hesitate to leave even father and mother,
and all to whom I am bound by the ties of nature. I hope you
are all in good health of body — would that I had the same hope in
regard to matters of more importance ! But when I think that some
of our dear family are still in the "gall of bitterness and the strong
chains of iniquity," I cannot hope so. I can do nothing but pray,
and in my condition, I am more fit to have prayers offered for
myself, than to offer them for others. Next Sabbath is the day
of the communion : how I should like, were it possible, to sit
down and commemorate our Saviour's love with my dear parents,
— but I suppose it may not be.
I remain your affectionate son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Jefferson College, September 14th.
My Dear Father —
Yesterday was our communion here ; and though it was so
near to the end of the session, that we could not have much time
for preparation, and no fast day was appointed, yet it was about
as profitable a day as I ever spent. True, at the table, and whilst
partaking of the elements, I was not happy ; nay, before I rose
from the table, I was almost as miserable as I ever was. Yet it
was profitable. A temptation came across my mind to this effect :
"I am not now enjoying communion with Jesus Christ; and
therefore I am not a Christian. I may as well now give up all
pretensions to religion, and quit acting the hypocrite any longer."
And although not willingly, I felt as if I ought to do so ; but the
thought rushed into my mind, '• If I am so miserable under the
hidings of God's face only, how .shall I bear his eternal wrath ?"
It was the first time I had ever been influenced more by fear than
by other motives. I was miserable, however. But see the good-
ness of God and of Jesus Christ. After chinch, I was think-
ing of my conduct during the session, and meditating on the
LETTERS WHILE AT COLLEGE. 11
two verses, " Seek ye first the kingdom of God ;" and all ray
anxious cares vanished. I had been impressed deeply with a
sense of my sinfulness, and was wishing to make some resolu-
tions hereafter to live more to the glory of God, but felt almost
afraid to do it. I knew I should fall away ; and I felt that it
would but aggravate my guilt, were I to sin against such renewed
obligation. But the sentence, " Sufficient unto the day is the evil
thereof," calmed my heart. I felt that it was my duty to follow
present duty, and leave the future to God, without any anxious
cares ; and I was enabled to do so, and to roll all my cares upon
the Lord. Oh, the peace I at that moment possessed ! I could
scarce refrain from laughing, I was so joyful.
I determined then to live every day as if it were to be the last
I should have to live, and to do my duty accordingly ; — in reality,
" to live by the day." At secret prayer I was more full of God's
presence, and comprehended more of that view of Christ's charac-
ter, which is so great, grand, and incomprehensible, that I could
scarcely proceed for joy ; and from my own experience during the
day, I could tell something of the difference between God's pres-
ence and his absence. To-day, I cannot say T feel, or have felt,
as I could wish — not so much life and animation ; but I have
been enabled to mourn for it. During the sermon (Mark xvi. 15),
I was enabled to see more of the greatness of the Christian religion
than I ever did before, and to feel, too, that man could not be the
author of such grand ideas as I saw there held out.
This evening I was walking out into the country for exercise,
and on my return I passed the cottage of a negro woman, com-
monly called " Old Katy." She was out in the road, when I passed
her. I shook hands with her, and spoke a few words to her. Be-
fore we had spoken three sentences, she was talking about religion.
She is a most eminent Christian, and we stood about ten or fifteen
minutes there talking. She soon got to speaking about the mis-
sionary cause. Her heart was in the matter, and she said, " I am
very poor, but as long as I hve 1 will be something to it. I have
often given a little to it, and I never laid out any money better.
I could not do it. I never lost a cent by it."
I wish I could give you some idea of the emphasis she used, but
pen and ink cannot express her manner and the feeling she mani-
fested. She very cordially asked me to call in and see her; "for
it is food to me when any of God's children come to see me ; it is
foodP She went on thus for some time, talking about various
matters, but all of them religious. Oh ! how little I felt when I
heard her talk thus, and compared my attainments in the Chris-
tian course with hers.
18th. I received your kind letter yesterday, for which I am
very much obliged to you. I would go to Pittsburg to see you,
but thev are not done examining our class, and I do not wish to be
absent from here on Sunday. The examination commenced yes-
terday, and they got over one half of the class, myself among
12
MEMOIR OF "WALTER M. LOWRIE.
them. The Greek still remains to try our metal, but I cannot say
I am afraid of that ; and if such things as these were to be my
only difficulties. I should not think life very burdensome.
I remain your affectionate son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Jefferson College, November 22d, 1835.
My Dear Mother —
You may recollect in reading the life of Payson, a sentence like
this: "Whenever I write to you, more than forty ideas jump at
once, all equally eager to get out, and jostle and incommode each
other at such a rate, that not the most proper, but the strongest,
escapes first." I find something like this at present in my head,
for I hardly know where to begin. However, on last Saturday
night there were four of us students, who met in our room, to have
a little prayer-meeting : we had all, I think, a great deal of free-
dom in prayer for a revival, and after our meeting was over, we
sung two or three hymns together. It was as pleasant a meeting
as I have attended in a long time. One of the hymns was that
most expressive one, " Alas ! and did my Saviour bleed," and I am
sure there was a good deal of feeling manifested among us.
Yesterday Mr. E., an agent of the American Board of Missions,
preached a sermon in the forenoon with which I was highly
pleased, on the text "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
At night he preached again ; subject, the debt we owe the heathen.
He proved in it, that we owe a debt to the heathen that we are able
to pay ; that the time had come ; and concluded with a number of
most thrilling, interesting facts. The sermon was an hour and a
half long ; the longest I have ever heard, but it seemed the short-
est. He spoke of the providences of God with regard to Missions,
and said, that had Lyman and Munson lived to fill up their three-
score years and ten, and toiled and labored, wrote and translated,
and been as successful as any of our present missionaries, they
would not, in all human probability, have been as useful by one
half, as they have been just by their death. They have excited
more interest, more prayers, more contributions, and brought for-
ward more young men to fill their places, than they could have
done, had their life been prolonged. The JBoard have already sev-
eral missionaries who are going to take their places, and the inter-
est in that mission is ten times as great as it ever was. Is not
that gratifying? About the close he related an anecdote, which I
hardly dare attempt to repeat, but I will try. " Some years ago
I was out on a tour for collecting money for the Society, and I
stopped over Sunday at a town, and preached there. I gave no-
tice that on the morrow, I would go around and receive their con-
tributions. Accordingly, in company with the minister, I did so.
We came to a house, or cabin rather, and he said, 'We must go in
here ; we shall receive no donation, but there is a ' Mother in Israel'
LETTERS WHILE AT COLLEGE. 13
here.' We went in and found an old woman over seventy, bent
nearly double by age, and troubled witb all its infirmities, and her
daughter, who was helpless. The old woman supported her
daughter and herself by spinning flax. As soon as she saw us,
she said, ' I am glad you have come. I was afraid you would not,
and last night I lay awake and prayed that God would send you,
and now you are here. I got up early this morning and went to
a neighbor who has a gentle horse, which he lends me whenever
I want it ; and then 1 went to another man who owed me six
shillings for spinning flax, which he paid me : now I want to give
it to the Missionary Society, here it is,' handing it to me. I told
her we did not expect any money from her ; we had not come to
her house for that purpose. She insisted. I took the subscription
paper, wrote her name, and opposite to it six shillings, and show-
ing it to her said. See, here is your name, we will pay this money,
and no one shall ever know you did not give it yourself, and you
can keep your money. I thought she needed it too much to give
it. She looked at me, the big tears rolling down her cheeks, and
said, ' What have I done, that you won't let me give this money ;
I have prayed for forty years for the heathen, and yesterday you
told us the time had come, when we might g-ive as well as pray,
and I was glad of it ; now you won't let me give this money — it is
very hard.' Great grief was visible in her countenance" — and
Mr. E., heartily ashamed of himself, took the money. Was not
that most beautiful ? I was near bursting into tears. Shortly after
I spoke to one who had been at our prayer-meeting, and he was in
extacies. "Oh Lowrie, is not that deligbtful? What a blessed
Sabbath ! Our little prayer-meeting '" If I ever desired to be a
minister and a missionary, I did last night. Such a glorious ob-
ject ! so worthy all the talents, feelings, and affections of every
reasonable creature, that it seems impossible, almost, not to desire
it. However, though it may be the duty of others to decide this
matter while at college, I hardly think it can be mine, at least for
a year to come.
We have between seventy and eighty new students, the largest
number received in one session since 1831, when the new college
was built, and perhaps, excepting that time, the largest number
ever received. Altogether we have near two hundred and fifty stu-
dents. Were the Spirit of God poured out here, what would be
the consequences ! We have a great deal of studying to do. I
am trying to " Parlez vous" some, and hope to be able to speak
with some fluency before the winter is over. * *
Yours affectionately, W. M. Lowrie.
Canonsburg, December 26th, 1835.
My Dear Mother —
In looking over the various relations which others sustain to
me, or which I sustain to tlnem, I see very little which does not
14 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
call for sincere, hearty gratitude. ' To have so many friends, my-
self to enjoy so many privileges and mercies, of which others
stand in so much need, while I am but too insensible to their
value, and to have so many opportunities of improving myself and
of preparing for future usefulness, — these things, combined with
others, which are so many I cannot number them, give me abun-
dant cause for gratitude and praise.
Dec. 29. This is my birth-day. It is just one year since first
I experienced the hope of salvation, and now I see before me the
whole scene, and the fulness of my heart rises within me. I ha^re
just been thinking of my conduct the past year. Whilst I see
many things to be thankful for, and to encourage me, I also see
much to grieve and humble me. The hasty flight of time only
brings us nearer an eternal home, where " sorrow and sighing
flee away." I am more and more anxious to pay you a visit in
the spring, and expect to enjoy a great deal of pleasure from it.
If we anticipate so much pleasure from joys that are but finite,
what will the joys of heaven be ? An infinity of everything that
is good !
Jan. 2d, 1836. Taking a walk this afternoon, I came near a
grave-yard, and went into it. Some of the tenants were dead
more than eighty years, some under one year. Some of the tomb-,
stones bore marks of many years' exposure ; others were as fresh
as if yesterday they had been placed there. All was calm and
silent. The world flees from such scenes. Many of the tomb-
stones spoke of the joys of heaven, of the resurrection, and of Christ,
and their rude poetry only made them the more striking. I love
•a grave-yard. I love to walk among these signs of death, and
muse on death itself. I may be deceived, but to me death has
few terrors, and though nature may shrink from the last fatal
struggle, yet I think I am not afraid to die. " I know that my
Redeemer liveth . . . and though worms destroy this body, yet in
my flesh shall I see God."
" The knell, the shroud, the mattock, and the grave,
The deep damp vault, the darkness, and the worm —
These are the terrors of the living, not the dead."
Jan. 4. I have just seen a letter from my dear brother John.
His health has failed, and he is obliged to leave India. How sad
that he has to leave his station, and all his prospects of usefulness
in that region. Although I long to see him, I could wish he may
be able to remain. But God has good reasons for what appears
to us to be so dark. May he who holds the winds in his power,
and the waves in the hollow of his hand, preserve and bring him
safe to his native land. Well do I recollect when I bade him
farewell. Never till the last moment, and when I felt that he
must go — never till then did I know how much I loved him.
Then I knew what the bitterness of parting was. Yet what are
friends and kindred, father and mother, brothers and sisters, com
LETTERS WHILE AT COLLEGE. ' 15
pared with Jesus Christ? He that loveth them more than him, is
not worthy of him.
Jan. 5. Did yon ever study geometry ? I am working at it
now, and I do thinlc it is about as dry a thing as I ever studied.
It is not hard, on tlie contrary, it is very easy — but it is so regular.
Now I like order, but I Kke variety too, and we have but httle of
that in Legendre. A square is a square, be it big or httle, and it
has just four angles, and these four angles are all equal — more-
over, they are all right angles. I like algebra : there is some va-
riety there — something to turn and rest the attention upon at
every step. Most of our class are rejoicing that we are through
algebra ; but I would rather study it than geometry, Latin, or
Greek.
I have been lately reading the life of James B. Taylor. I have
not met with anything like it. He makes me feel quite ashamed
of myself. Pray for me, that I may be fitted for the holy ministry.
I remain yours affectionately,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Jefferson College, January 28th, 1837.
My Dear Father —
. . .We are still driving away at the conic sections, which are very
solid, and to me very interesting. I do not think them hard, by
any means, although some do complain piteously about long les-
sons. I do not like Greek so well as the mathematics, and I find
it much harder. Nothing but the conviction that it is necessary
to have a thorough knowledge of it, to fit me for my future call-
ing, could induce me to study it. I do not mean to say, however,
that I find it difficult.
I have lately been reading Swan's Letters on Missions. The
question of personal devotion to the missionary work is rising
before me, and I can scarce help thinking I am called upon to
decide this question soon. I have tried to put it off. under various
excuses — not, I hope, with any wish to avoid the question, but
principally owing to my inexperience ; but I don't know how I
can much longer postpone it. I intend reading a great deal on
the subject, and hereafter making it the subject of special prayer.
I should like to have your views, as soon as you have time.
Give my best love to all.
W. M. Lowrie.
Jefferson College, Febmary 7th, 1837.
My Dear Father —
We had the communion here about four weeks ago, and since
that time three of our students have joined the church. One of
my Bible-class has experienced a hope, and several others are
somewhat affected. There has been an extensive revival at Cross
16 MEMOIR OF WALTER ?t LOWRIE.
Roads, and Florence Academy. One most profane young man was
one of the first and clearest cases of conversion.
The question of personal devotion to the missionary cause, has,
as you are aware, long been before my mind. When I first ex-
perienced a hope of salvation, this suloject presented itself to my
mind. This feeling has continued in almost every time and place.
This session I felt it to be important to know what I should do,
and what time I could spare was devoted to the examination of
the question. I never found any particular difficulties, except as
to my piety. At our last communion I was enabled to decide to
be, by the grace of God, a missionary. It was like throwing a
heavy burden off from my mind, and I have not since experienced
one moment of regret at the decision. Sometimes, indeed, it
seems hard — O, very hard — to think of parting with near and
dear friends ; but what are all these, or life itself, to the advance-
ment of the Saviour's cause, to which, two years ago, I conse-
crated myself?
Your affectionate son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Jefferson College, March 10th, 1837.
My Dear Father —
Brother John has been here for several days, and intends leaving
in the morning. His health has improved very little since leaving
New York. He has been engaged preaching so much, that it has
materially prevented his recruiting ; he is, however, no worse.
In my last letter I mentioned that as far as I could see, if noth-
ing providential occurred, I had made up my mind on the question
"Should I become a missionary?" It never seemed to present any
great difficulty to my mind, and I don't know that I could give
any particular account of the reasons, which led me to believe that
it was duty on my part to spend my life among the heathen. The
question always seemed, though a very important one, to be — Can
I do more abroad than at home ? There were no providential
hinderances to prevent me from going. Indeed Providence seemed
rather to point to the heathen as the proper place. My own incli-
nations and feelings pointed the same way. If I have piety to fit
me for being a minister at home, I might hope to have it for being
a missionary abroad. Of my talents and quahfications for the
work, others must judge. Almost the only difficulty was in regard
to my health. My constitution being weak, it seemed almost un-
able to bear much fatigue ; for even the labor of study is preying
on it in some degree. But though the case seemed so clear, do
not think, dear father, that it was on account of my vanity that
it appeared so. For almost always when the duty of being a mis-
sionary appeared strongest, I felt my own strength or my own fit-
ness to be least. And even now, when the troubles and depriva-
tions and duties of missionary life come up to view, the question
LETTERS WHILE IN COLLEGE. 17
involuntarily occurs, " Who is sufficient for these things ?" Yet
if I know my own heart, I am wilhng to live or die for the hea-
then. It is now nearly two montlis since I came to the determi-
nation expressed above, and never yet has a single emotion of re-
gret crossed my mind on account of it. Nay, a load has been
thrown off, and I feel a deejjer interest in everything that concerns
the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom. Pray for me, dear fa-
ther ; unless 1 have more piety than I now have, I am not fit for
the missionary work, nor for the ministry at home.
Your affectionate son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Pittsburg, September 13th, 1837.
My Dear Father —
We finished our examination eight days ago, but I have been
so busy, I have not had time to write to you. At the close of our
examination. I expected to be told that I might have my Diploma,
but further or higher I had not directed my thoughts. Judge of
my surprise then, when on the next morning. Dr. Brown gave me
the enclosed as my standing.* I had never thought of standing
more than respectably, but this grade is equivalent to what was
once called the first honor. There were two others in the class
who were marked equally high. I have been appointed Valedicta-
rian, which is considered here the most important post at the Com-
mencement. I hope, however, you will not consider me to be a
very excellent scholar, on account of the high standing I have
with the Faculty. In languages especially, I do not consider my-
self to be much above mediocrity.
As soon as Commencement is over, I shall set out for home.
Though I should like very much to enter on the study of theology
inunediately, yet I do feel almost afraid to commence without a
longer recess than common. During my collegiate course, I have
not, on an average, studied three hours a day ; but at the Semi-
nary, I would wish — indeed, it seems essential — that at least four
hours daily be spent in study. Still, with an opportunity of daily
systematic exercise, I siioul 1 not l^el much hesitation about the
Seminary studies. Others with far worse health than mine, have
gone through as severe a course ; and as I may probably never
have very strong health, it may not be worth while to delay on
that account, especially if my youth be not considered too strong
an objection.
I remain your affectionate son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
* Walter M. Lowrie,
Grade. Grade.
Languages, \. Natural Science, 1.
Moral Science, 1. Mathematics, 1.
M. Brown.
CHAPTER II.
October 1837 — January 1842.
returns home from college course in the theological seminary at
princeton accepted as a foreign missionary sails for china.
On leaving College, the subiect of this memoir returned home,
his father's family then residing in the city of New York. His
expectation was to enter the Theological Seminary at Princeton
soon after his return.. The Seminary year, however, commenced
in September, when the regular classes were formed ; and his
father, still somewhat solicitous respecting his health, deemed it
best that he should have a recess from study ; and he spent the
winter at home. Having few acquaintances in the city, his win-
ter's residence at home was a season of retirement and quiet, and
his time was profitably employed in reviewing his previous studies,
and in miscellaneous reading. He had also a good opportunity
of improvement in vocal music, under the able instructions of Mr.
Thomas Hastings. During the winter he took charge of a class
of young men in the Sabbath school, who became greatly attached
to him, and were much benefitted by the care he bestowed on
their instruction.
In May, 1838, he entered the Seminary, and afterwards joined
the regular class formed in September following. In his whole
course in the Seminary he pursued his studies very closely. He
was never absent from a single recitation ; and with his studies,
and other necessary duties, his time was fully employed. By per-
severing industry, he was able to superintend a Sabbath school at
Q,ueenston, a few miles from the Seminary, and also to make a
Catalogue of the books in the Library, and arrange them anew.
Before leaving College, as is seen by his letters, he had fully de-
cided to go as a missionary to the heathen, and during his last
year in the Seminary, his mind was settled on Western Africa as
his chosen field of labor. In December, 1840, he was received as
a missionary of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian
OCTOBER 1837 — JANUARY 1842. 19
Church. No objections to his preference for Africa were made by
his friends, and for several months the question of his field of
labor was considered as fully settled. In the spring and summer of
1841, however, the exigencies of the China mission induced the
Executive Committee to review the question of his field of labor.
The mission to China was then but commencing, and was en-
compassed with many difficulties. That great empire was at that
time closed against the Christian missionary ; and Singapore had
been selected as the most suitable place where the language of
China could be learned, translations made into it, schools estab-
lished, and other missionary work carried on. The Rev. John A.
Mitchell, and the Rev. Robert W. Orr and his wife, had arrived
at Singapore in April, 1838. In the following October, Mr. Mit-
chell was removed by death. The next year Mr. Orr's health
failed ; a visit to the Nilgerry Hills, in India, did not restore it ;
and in 1840, he set out on his return home. The same year, the
Rev. Thomas L. McBryde and his wife reached Singapore ; and
in 1841, he was joined by J. C. Hepburn, M. D., and his wife. In
one year, Mr. McBryde's health had dechned so much, tliat it
was evident he also must soon withdraw from that sphere of
labor, and thus leave Dr. Hepburn alone in the China mission. In
these circumstances, and having at that time no other suitable
man to send, the question in the view of the Executive Commit-
tee was clear, that China, and not Western Africa, was the proper
field of labor for the new missionary. It was believed, also, that
from the tone of his piety, his cheerful temper, his thorough edu-
cation, his natural talents and untiring industry, he was pecul-
iarly fitted for the China mission. It was, however, with many
misgivings, and much reluctance at first, that he contemplated
this change in his field of labor ; but as there was a perfect una-
nimity of sentiment in the Executive Committee, the professors in
the Seminary at Princeton, and other ministerial brethren, all of
whom he greatly respected, he yielded cheerfully to their judg-
ment— -viewing these things as a call from God to labor in that
great and destitute part of the Saviour's vineyard.
On the 5th of April, he was licensed to preach the Gospel by
the Second Presbytery of New York. After leaving the Seminary
in May, he spent a few weeks at home, preaching on the Sabbath
in different churches. In July and August he was sent by the
Executive Committee to the most distant land office in Michigan,
to secure the pre-emption right to the mission station among the
20 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Chippewa Indians, as the government had advertised the Indian
reservation for public sale. The sale, however, was postponed be-
fore he reached the land office, and on his return he spent some
time among the churches in Western New York. Late in the fall
he visited his friends in Western Pennsylvania for the last time,
and by these various journeys his health was much improved.
He was ordained on the 9th of November, 1841, and on the
evening of the last Sabbath of the same month, a deeply interest-
ing farewell missionary meeting was held in the Brick church,
New York. Addresses were made by the Rev. Gardiner Spring,
D. D., pastor of the church, by the missionary, and by his father.
These addresses would possess much interest now, but no copy of
them was preserved. It was expected that the vessel would sail
early in December, but she was delayed till in January, and in
the interval his time was chiefly spent at home.
New York, November 21st, 1837.
Mr. John Lloyd —
Dear Brother: — Though this method of communication is
but a poor substitute for that "sweet counsel" we have so often en-
joyed, yet as it is the best that now remains for us, I gladly embrace
the first good opportunity that has yet occurred, to renew our friend-
ship. For it does seem as though it had to be renewed, when I
think that, though you and myself have often "held sweet-
est converse about what God had done for our souls," and that
though our eyes have brightened and our hearts warmed, as we
" talked by the way," yet now we are separated by a distance of
more than four hundred mile.s, and are without the prospect of see-
ing each other for months, and perhaps years. Yet though sepa-
rated in body, I trust we are often present in spirit, and especially
that, at the throne of " our Father," we can still enjoy communion,
and be the means of profit to each other, perhaps ever, greater
than that which our mutual conversations could have afforded. It
is surely consoling to know that there is One who watches over us,
and over our dearest friends, far better than we could possibly do,
and that at all times He will do all things well. Yet, were it con-
sistent with duty, I should like again to spend a few hours with
you, and again partake in those social joys that kindred spirits like
yours and mine so nuich deUght in. My situation here, though
fully as pleasant as I expected it to be, is very different from what
it was in Canonsburg. I have as yet very few acquaintances here,
and do not expect to have many. Those that I have, I know not
what they are, for the rules of fashion are so trammelling, that
one cannot at once make those friendly advances which are com-
mon among you. Consequently when I would enjoy the holier
LETTERS. 21
joys of friendship, I must draw off my attention from things
around me, and return to past days and scenes, in many of which
you and one or two others held a conspicuous part. Do you miud
that day after our missionary meeting of the Society of Inquiry,
last March, when you and I took that long walk " over the hills
and far away," and in our conversation seemed to have some fore-
tastes of " glory begun below ?" Many and many a time has it
risen to my mind, and if it has not drawn tears from my eyes, it
has done what is better — encouraged me to go forward, and caused
me to gird up the loins of my mind anew for the heavenly race,
and made me sometimes to remember a friend, a fellow-expectaut
of what " eve hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered
into the heart of man to conceive." Yet from what I have said,
do not suppose that I am at all unhappy or discontented, or even
disappointed. So far. at least, "I have learned in whatsoever state
I am, therewith to be content ;" whether it will always be so or
not, time will show. The contrast between my present way of
living and that at Canonsburg, is very striking. I see very little
company ; attend very few evening meetings ; don't make three or
four speeches every week, (you know I was famous for that ;) on
the contrar)^, hardly open my mouth from one week's end to the
other ; read a good deal ; study as much as I did at College ; and am
on the whole iDecoming quite a domestic animal. I am very glad
to find that comparative solitude agrees so well with me ; for I was
really afraid that after being so used to meetings of one kind or
another every night, it would be difficult to get along without them.
In fact, it does require some effort to keep alive the spirit of piety,
when one has nothing like the Society of Inquiry or the Brainerd
Society to excite to action ; nothing but the stated ordinances of
God's house to nourish the soul. Yet on that very account I prize
my present situation the more, because I am thereby enabled, or
perhaps I shoulu say required, to live more by faith and less by
sight, or frames and feelings. And to a missionary nothing can
be more important, than to be able to live without anything to
keep the soul in constant excitement ; for, as it has been well re-
marked, " when he gets to his field of labor, he can attend no
crowded meetings to hear some eloquent orator descant upon the
magnanimity of the missionary enterprise." All the " romance of
missions" must then belaid aside, and in its reality, he may almost
be tempted to forget for whom and for what he is laboring, and be-
coming discouraged, lay down his weapons, and retire vanquished
from the field to which his Master called him.
It seems to me, on looking back on the last two or three years
of my collegiate course, that we all lived too much by excitement,
not enough by simple faith. Our religious societies were precious
and profitable, and I should be sorry to give them up, but perhaps
we depended too much on them, without remembering that "Paul
may plant and xlpollos water, but God alone can give the increase ;"
and this dependence on these means, (at least in my own case,)
22 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
was productive of a spirit of action more resembling the "crackling
of tliorns," than the steady, intense flame that consumed the Jew-
ish sacrifices. Oh, my brother ! guard against this spirit of trust-
ing to anything in preference to the revealed will of God, and his
ordinances, for animation in the divine life.
What is the state of missionary feeling now among you ? Do
you yet hear the voice, " Come over and help us," and the wailing
cry, " And what then ?" as it rises from the death-bed of the Hin-
doo, and, borne across the waste of waters, reaches our ears both
from the east and the west, swelled as it is, and heightened and
prolonged by the addition of innumerable others ? Oh, does the
" cry of the nations," echoed and re-echoed from the distant moun-
tains, still sound among you ? Or does it die away among the
crumbling ruins of heathen temples, unheard and unheeded, save
by the infidel and the deist? Oh, who is there to come up to the
help of the Lord against the mighty ? There is nothing in all
my course for which I reproach myself so much, as that I did so
little to excite a missionary spirit at College. I do not mean among
those who were already determined as to the path of duty, but
among those who had not decided the question ; for very rarely
did I press upon any of them as I should, the importance of the
work, the necessity, absolute, increasing, and alas ! almost irreme-
diable necessity now existing for laborers, and their own duty in
this great matter. Dear brother, can you not do something? You
have the confidence of most of the pious students, and could you
but muster courage enough to determine to do something in this
matter, imborn millions would bless you for it. Let me transcribe
for you a few lines from an appeal of some missionaries in India ;
you have perhaps seen them before, but they will bear reading and
praying over again :
" The soil is ready for the seed, and the seed ready to be sown,
but where are the husbandmen ? In some places it has been scat-
tered abroad and the fields are white for the harvest, but where are
the reapers ? Congregations large and attentive might be procured
every day, hut ive have no men. Schools might be established on
Christian principles, but w& have no men. Humanly speaking, souls
might be saved, but ^how can they hear without a preacher?^
You can increase the number of these queries to an almost indefinite
extent, but the answer will almost always be, we have no men !
We have gone to the colleges and seminaries of learning, but we
found few to answer our demands. We went to the haunts of so-
ciety, but one was busied about his farm, and another about his
merchandise, and another with the sweets of domestic society.
We went to the schools of the prophets, and asked if on any of
them rested the spirit of Elijah? but there were few to answer
the call. Despairing, we looked to the heathen, and as we saw them
go down by crowds to the darkness of the second death, we felt
as if yet another effort should be made. Oh, who will go for us?"
Wishing you all temporal and all spiritual blessings, and sym-
LETTERS. 23
pathizin^ most sincerely with you in your late afflicting bereave-
ment, (of which I have only just heard,)
I remain your brother,
W. M. LOWRIE.
New York, November 29th, 1837.
Mr. Roger Owen —
Dear Brother, — I had intended to have a long conversation
with you, about the management of our Sabbath school next
summer ; and though it may seem like officiousness in me to
volunteer my advice, yet my brother, with whom I have been so
long associated in that beloved place, will not take it hard, if I stir
up his mind by way of remembrance. In the first place, it will
be best for you to use your own judgment ; and at all times, while
you do not appear to assume any power, you must let the scholars
know that you are the superintendent. Govern them, however,
by love. Try to enter into all their feelings, and make your in-
structions of such a character, that every one can understand you.
If the children can understand you, there is no danger but that
the older scholars will ; but the reverse is not so certain. Let
your speeches, however, be always short. I erred sometimes in
this, though not often conscious of it. Go about the room often ;
walk up and down the aisles, and look at the classes as you pass :
this will have a great effect, though I neglected it almost entirely.
I am sure I did wrons^ in not doinof it more than I did. Go to the
several classes, and talk to each class at least once in the session.
Here again I failed. The teachers always seemed to have enough
to do, and I did not like to interrupt them. But I think it would
be better to go sometimes, even if you do interrupt the regular
lesson, and say a few words, even if you do not talk more than
half a minute. But if you do go, don't talk more than three or
four minutes. One of my class said, towards the close of the ses-
sion, " Mr. Lowrie seems to have forgotten us entirely, for he
never comes near us any more." Keep up the missionary talks
by all means. Be sure, while you are speaking, always to seem,
and I hope you will feel, as if there were none but children pres-
ent, and no person else in the world knew what you were doing.
And probably, when you are talking, and trying to lead their
young minds heavenward, you will find it best not to say a great
deal directly to induce tiiem to be Christians. For example, don't
say, " You ought to be Christians now, because you may die soon
— because you will be the happier for it," &c. ; but preach "Christ
and him crucified" to them. This way of telling children that it
is their duty to be pious, and how great a benefit it will be to
themselves, has generally but httle permanent eft'ect ; at least, it
never had much on me, and I never found it to have much on
others. These are some of the principal things that occurred to
me, as being worth while to write to you about. I do not know
24
MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
that it was necessary that I should have written about them at
all ; but if it was not, you know the motives which penned them.
There is one thing which you cannot keep too distinctly before
you — earnest, importunate prayer. You would probably find it
an advantage to have a list of all your teachers, on a small slip
of paper. Place this in your Bible, and make it a point to re-
member at least one of them every day in your prayers. You
should also have a list of all the scholars, and, if possible, know
them all by their first names. Maintain, also, the utmost possible
affection among your teachers, and between them and yourself;
be a brother to them in heart, and your conduct will be all that is
necessary. If you can, even at the expense of a good deal of in-
convenience, make a circuit of the congregation on behalf of the
Sabbath school, about the time you commence, you will find it of
immense benefit.
Such are some of the points on which 1 would like to have
talked with you particularly, and one of my objects in writing
them to you, is to show you, that the interest I feel in Miller's
Run Sabbath school, its teachers, and its present superintendent,
is still unimpaired ; and long may it continue so ! It is my ear-
nest prayer, that you may all increase in love, and be far more
useful and active than ever I was, and that the blessing of " Oin*
Father" may rest upon you. Farewell, my brother. There is a
place where, though separated in body, we can still meet, and
hold communication with each other.
W. M. LOWRIE.
Neto York, January 1st, 1838.
Mr. John Lloyd —
A happy new year to you, friend John ! and may you see many
more such, if the Lord will ! What are you doing now, whilst I
am writing to you ? Cousin John tells me you have holidays (old
times are in that word,) at present ; so I will just let my imagin-
ation try if she can find where you are, or what you are doing.
But as you are pretty much of a home-loving creature, I suppose
I need not go far to find you. Probably you are going about, pay-
ing some fifteen minute visits, for you were never famous for long
ones ; or very probably you are standing by the side of the old
mill-dam, and watching the fellows skating. I hardly think you
would adventure yourself on the ice, for you are most too grave
for that. But no — I forget ; this is the first Monday of the
month, and of the year, and therefore you are probably stuck up
in a corner of your room, reading all the missionary pamphlets
you can lay hands on. By the way, have you read the life of
Swartz ? If you have not, let me " lay my commands" on you
to read it immediately. You know how much our experience
resembles each other's — now rejoicing, and now, again, discour-
aged and without heart. Swartz was always on the proper pitch ;
LETTERS. 25
constantly in the exercise of strong", unwavering, childlike confi-
dence in God, and therefore he was always ready to employ him-
self in his Master's business. He was always busy, always
cheerful, and always useful. Dear brother, may we strive to be
like him, and may we have the same success in our labors that
he had in his ! I can ask for few blessings greater, either for you
or for myself, than is contained in that wish. I read Bedell's
memoirs some time ago, and have just now finished those of
Hannah More. They are botli of them most excellent. The
former I was delighted with. The memoirs of the latter are also
very interesting, indeed. They ai'e compiled from her letters
almost entirely, including a great many from various celebrated
characters who were cotemporary with herself; and are, I think,
excellent models of epistolary correspondence. The style of
almost all is very good, and, what is far more important, through
most of them there is a strong vein of deep-toned sensibility and
piety. I really began to entertain a considerable degree of rever-
ence for her before I got quite through the memoir. She was an
extraordinary woman, possessed of more than common talents,
and able to do almost what slie pleased ; yet, so far from indulging
herself in this liberty, her whole life was spent in a most quiet manner,
without any flashes, or romantic adventures or pursuits, or anything
inconsistent with the character of a plain, common-sense woman.
Mitchell and Orr, missionaries to China, sailed nearly a month
ago. How soon will you be ready ? Do you still think of China
in preference to India?
It seems strange that this is the beginning of another year.
How the time rolls round ! Yet to me the thought that time is
rapidly passing away is pleasant. It is solemn, and yet most
delightful, to think that my "salvation is nearer than when I be-
lieved ;" that, if I am a Christian, I am three years nearer to my
heavenly home than when first the hght of truth beamed on my
darkened and distressed mind. True, of many misimprovements
and much waste of precious time, I have to accuse myself ; yet
still the Lord is full of compassion, and the blood of Christ cleans-
eth from all sin ; and through him I can look death in the face,
and exclaim, when Satan, and doubts, and fears assail me, " I
know that my Redeemer liveth." By the way, I heard a sermon
on that text yesterday, from an Episcopal minister. He said that
the word translated Redeemer in this passage, was the same as
that used in Ruth iii. 9, " A near kinsman," or, as the margin has
it. " One that has a right to redeem." The mention that such
was the meaning of the word, led me into a train of very pleasing
and profitable thought. If we had been taken captive by enejuies,
and knew that our father, or mother, or brother, were aware of it,
we should be sure that they would use every exertion to ransom
us. But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother : this
friend is our Redeemer, and this Redeemer is the omnipotent God.
Can there, then, be any doubt of our final salvation ?
26 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
The last two or three months have been very pleasant ones. I
seem to have had more nearness of access to God, greater confi-
dence in the Saviour, and more of the influences of the Spirit,
than I have usually had. Among other reasons for these great
blessings, I have no doubt but the prayers of my many friends in
Canonsburg and its vicinity have had much effect. I still need
your prayers very much, for I am prone every moment to fall.
And now, brother, my paper tells me I must close ; and com-
mending you to the grace of God, which is able to keep you
through faith unto salvation, I remain.
Your affectionate brother in Christ,
W. M. LOWRIE.
New York, January 27th, 1838.
Mr. Roger Owen —
Dear Brother: — It would be in vain to attempt to tell you
how much pleasure your letter gave me. Although all the letters
I have received tliis winter awakened delightful associations, and
opened up fountains of fond reminiscences, yet none did so more
than yours. I could almost think we were again sitting on the
logs, or under the old shady trees at Miller's Run, and holding
sweet converse as in days past. It seemed as if we were again
walking out together to " Pleasant Valley," " Rural Retreat," or
" Linden Hill," or some other such place, and from behind every
tree some old friend would step out to welcome me, and every fence-
corner and hollow tree told a tale of other times. It may be fancy,
but I always think I can see the face of a friend, and hear his
voice, and recall all his peculiar modes of speaking and pronunci-
ation, when I see his handwriting.
I was indeed sorry to hear that none of our dear Sabbath School
scholars had joined the church, and more than once while think-
ing of it, tears would have been a relief; yet I could not say that
it was surprising. It was but just, for so many imperfections and
so much unfaithfulness marked my conduct and prayers and
labors there during the last summer, that I could hardly expect any-
thing else. Dear brother, profit by my experience, and avoid the
keen self-reproaches which I often feel on account of my negli-
gence. How much more prayerful I might have been ! How
much more earnest and faithful in my labors and appeals to the
consciences of those who met in our school. You cannot pray too
much for the school; you cannot labor too much for their cotiver-
sion. Slack not, then, your diligence ; oh, be faithful ! Labor, if
need be night and day with tears, if by any means you may save
some ; and assuredly you will not repent of your exertions on a dying
bed, or at the judgment day. I speak this to stir you up, know-
ing from my own feelings how unpleasant is the recollection of
unfaithfulness. You all, 1 believe, thought me active, and in
some degree faithful ; but none of you knew as I did and do now,
LETTERS. 27
how much more I might have done had I imitated our blessed
Saviour, " who pleased not himself." Yet though I was unfaith-
ful, there were others who were not so, and tlierefore I do not
despair, but hope and believe that the labors of last summer will
not all be lost.
I have not much to add to what was said in my last, about your
duties, though there are tv/o things which you have probably
thought of before now.
1st. When any children or young persons come into the church
in the morning, to go and ask them to join some class, unless you
know they will not ; this should always be done. Last summer,
I observed three or four little girls and boys who came in one
morning, and sat in one of the vacant seats. The first morning
I went and asked them to join some class, but could not persuade
them to do so. The next day several came, and as they appeared
to be the same, I did not ask them to join a class. So it was the
next day. and on the fourth Sabbath, finding they were still there,
I determined to ask them again, though hardly expecting they
would. To my great surprise they consented at once. I felt a
pang in my conscience for leaving them thus for two or three
Sabbaths without pressing the matter, and even yet, the recollec-
tion of it is very painful.
2d. It is hardly worth while to tell you the second, though
it would have been well for me if I had known it: don't do
everything yourself, and yet be the soul of all that is done.
That is, there are many things the teachers can do, and if you
would just direct them or ask them to do it, while you employ
yourself about other matters, it would make them feel more re-
sponsibility, and extend your influence, and give you time for other
things. For instance, the teachers ought to feel that it is their
duty to increase the number of scholars, not only in their own
classes but in others, and not leave this entirely to the superinten-
dent.
When one of your teachers is absent, and procures another to
supply his or her place, be sure that you yourself take the person
who is to supply, and introduce him to the class. This is your
business, and not the business of the teacher who may accompany
him to the house.
I was at Princeton last week, "spying out the land," and brought
back a favorable report. If life and health be spared, I shall prob-
ably go there next summer. Your brother was well, and all of
our Jeffersonians, of whom there were a dozen.
May I recommend you a plan of studying the Bible which I
have found exceedingly profitable? i. e., to study three or four
verses every morning carefully, with all Scott's marginal references.
Take up faith, repentance, the love of Christ, humility, &.C., or
some particular subject.
1 am your affectionate brother,
W. M. LOWRIE.
28 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Princeton, July 4th, 1838.
My Dear Mother — ■
... I get up every morning' at half past four, often sooner, but
rarely later, and take a walk of one or two miles. It is most invig-
orating to the whole system, while the fresh air, singing birds, pleas-
ant fragrance of the fields, and the thousand and one nameless
pleasures of a morning walk, concur to make it a most delightful
custom. When I get back it is near breakfast time. The appro-
priate duties of the morning over, I commence study at seven, and
continue till half past ten, or perhaps eleven, at Latin, Greek and
Hebrew, singing a little at intervals by way of relaxation. Din-
ner is ready at half past twelve, and miscellaneous employments
occupy me till two ; then some regular reading connected with the
course here, till half past four. Prayers and supper at five, and
company, talking, walking, singing, meetings, bathing, reading,
writing, thinking, and not thinking, <fcc., till nine. Generally I
manage to be asleep soon after ten. My next door neighbor has
an alarm clock, which usually awakens me in the morning, and
if it did not the old hell would at five. Though not pursuing the
regular studies of my class, I find abundance to do, and my time
generally passes in the way above described.
There is here, as may be supposed, every variety of character.
The variety is fully as great, if not greater, than it was at College,
excluding of course those who were not professors of religion.
There is a good deal of reserve among the students towards new
comers, though perhaps not greater than one would expect. As
yet I have not made many intimate acquaintances, and do not
wish to, for a short time. There are, however, some lovely spir-
its among these brethren.
Yours affectionately,
W. M. Lowrie.
Princeton, July 21st., 1838.
Mr. Roger Owen —
Dear Brother, — Another week has passed — your session is
more than half, and ours more than one third over ; and yet to
me, as probably to you, it seems but a few days since it com-
menced. It seems almost strange sometimes, that we can be
indolent or weary in well-doing, when we think how short our
time is. Were it not that we have almost daily experience to the
contrary, we should think there was no danger of our becoming
cold in the service of our Master. But " ere one fleeting hour is
past," we often feel our hearts grow cold. But though we are
fickle and changing as the morning cloud, or the smoke of the
chimney, or the chaflffrom the threshing-floor, yet God remaineth
ever the same, unchangeably glorious and good to all his crea-
tures. The thought, that we shall one day be admitted to dwell
LETTERS. 29
with him, to be ever with the Lord, is glorious indeed, and may-
well induce us to bear trials, and temptations, and sorrows, and
labors, for his sake. This was much impressed upon my mind
the other day, when thinking" on the verse, " Fear not, little flock,
for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
How emphatic ! every word almost has its meaning. " Little
flock" — an expression of tenderness. What must have been our
Saviour's feelings, as he looked on his disciples and uttered these
words ! (Luke xii. 32.) An innumerable multitude were around
him — Pharisees and Sadducees, his enemies, and those who said
they belonged to no party- But his all-seeing eye, and all-know-
ing mind, as it glanced over that vast multitude, saw but a few
of his own real followers. The vast majority were his enemies.
His own were few, like sheep in the world's wide desert, surround-
ed w^ith those who would rejoice to drink their blood, and extir-
pate them from the earth. But the voice of Jesus falls like soft
music on their ears, " Fear not, little flock," though the world
oppose you, though men rise up against you, though this is not
your rest — yet still " it is your Fatlier's good pleasure to give you
the kingdom." " Our Father"— the most endearing, trust-inspir-
ing name that could be given him. " Good pleasure" — not plea-
sure merely, but his good pleasure, his delight. " To give" — for
we do not deserve, and cannot purchase it, unworthy, weak, and
sinful as we are. " The kingdom" — not a kingdom, but the
kingdom, — the only one worth having, the only one whose pos-
session does not give its owner more sorrow than joy, more thorns
than roses. A kingdom includes all our ideas of worldly happi-
ness— wealth, honor, fame, ease, pleasure, and the power of doing
good — all this ; yet every earthly kingdom is but a faint shadow
of better things to come, which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,
nor hath it entered into the heart of man' to conceive. Pardon
me, my brother, if I have unreasonably trespassed on your pa-
tience by the above, but the train of thought pleased me, and
perhaps it may cheer you, sometimes, in difficulty or distress.
The other morning, wlien taking a walk before breakfast, I
found a little bird, just fledged, on the road ; it could fly only a
few steps. The innocent little thing let me catch it, and hold it,
without appearing at all alarmed ; but the parent birds were iu
great distress. I set it down, and it ran off into some long grass.
The old birds immediately flew down, and began to limp along
before me in several curious figures ; and after going ten or twelve
yards, one of them very slyly turned back, while the other led me
on some forty or fifty yards further, and then, taking wing, thought,
though she did not say, " Good morning to you, sir ;" and flew
back to the place where we commenced our acquaintance, and I
saw her no more. You may draw your own moral from this ; it
pleased me very much.
I have just received a letter from Mrs. G , which revived
many old recollections. The continued prosperity of your school
30 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
rejoices my heart, though I am sometimes tempted almost to envy
you the privilege you have in attending there. May the Lord be
with and bless you abundantly. I was surprised and delighted,
as well as humbled, to hear of the effect produced by the letter I
sent some time ago. If it produces any good effects, it cannot be
owing to any goodness of the author, but only to the grace of God.
You still keep up the missionary talks. What subject do you at-
tend to this summer ? and how much interest appears to be felt
in this great, great subject ? It seems, to me at least, more and
more important, that a missionary spirit be excited in the minds
of children — of young children. While we must not, by any
means, neglect the Catechism and the Bible, or rather the Bible
and the Catechism, yet now is the best time to make them feel
on the subject of saving a world. If they be instructed in the
principles of missions now, they will need no argument to con-
vince them of the importance and duty of sending the gospel to
the heathen.
There are some lovely spirits here. The standard of piety is
by no means as high as it should be ; but still there are some who
seem to walk with God. The missionary brethren, of whom there
are some fourteen or fifteen, include some of the best men in the
Seminary. It has been very profitable to me to be here, but still
I find it requires watching and prayer ; and often, O very often,
does this cold heart become weary in well-doing. Often does it
become very formal, and search for truth more with a critical than
a practical view. This is one of the great dangers here. Dear
brother, pray for me. Be courageous, and strong in the service
of God. Did you ever observe the blessed promises and encour-
agements of the first chapter of Joshua ? They apply to us, as
well as to Joshua of old.
May the Lord of love and peace be with, and bless you abun-
dantly.
Your affectionate brother in Christ,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Princeton, September 8th, 1838.
Dear Mother —
.... With one exception this country is very pleasant, but that
exception is a great drawback ; we have none of the grand hills
and valleys that are found about the Alleghany river, and conse-
quently but httle variety of scenery. The sunset scenes here sur-
pass in beauty all that I have ever seen, for such a country is just
the kind for them ; wide plains " bathed in light," and gradually
becoming less and less visible as the sun sinks in the west, con-
spire to shed a peaceful impression over the mind. But for that
very reason our morning prospects are dull. The animating scene
of the sun gilding first the tops of the hills, then penetrating to
the deep valleys, is not witnessed here
LETTERS. 31
I have never, it seems to me, felt such a true affection for all
my relations and friends, as during this summer, and never such
a willingness to leave them all, and go wherever duty might call,
even, if necessary, to the " grave of the white man," Western Af-
rica— where few are laboring, and none seem ready to go and
help them. Dr. Miller made some excellent remarks at our last
Monthly Concert, on the necessity of more entire dependence on
the Spirit of God in the work of missions. Some statements had
been made in regard to the great want of laborers in some fields,
and he took occasion thence to observe that we are too apt to rely
on mere human strength, and if a person has filled any particular
station well for a lejigth of time, we imagine it would be left en-
tirely unsupplied on his removal, as though man and not God was
the cause of any success or prosperity. It was a consoling truth,
and especially so for those who, as watchmen, know best the wants
of the world, and the difiiculty of supplying them. . . .
Our session closes in a short time, and if spared, I hope to be
home this day three weeks. I had intended going on foot to
Easton, and through the northern parts of New Jersey, but have
now decided to wait till near the close of vacation. Besides, I
have some thought of studying Hebrew with Dr. Nordheimer, in
New York, during the vacation. He is undoubtedly the best He-
brew scholar in the United States, though yet a very young man.
He told me I might acquire a good knowledge of it in that time,
and if so, the course here would not only be less laborious, but in
some things far more profitable.
My health is better now, and appears more firm than it has ever
been ; and though I have studied harder than ever before, yet the
pain in my breast has almost entirely left me, and I have not had
an hour's sickness of any kind since leaving New York. Truly
" my cup runneth over." Yet probably a week of sickness would
prostrate me far more than many others, but " sufficient unto the
day is the evil thereof" Thus far I have had strength given me
for the performance of duty, and here I raise my Ebenezer :
" Hither by thy grace I'm come,
And I hope by thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home."
There is a beautiful hymn and tune in the Manhattan collec-
tion, page 200. We have a good deal of singing and music here,
but not much good music. The style of singing does not please
one very well, who has imbibed Mr. Hastings' love of distinct ar-
ticulation and expression.
With much affection,
*W. M. LOWRIE.
32 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Neio York, October 6th, 1838.
Mr. John M. Lowrie —
Dear Cousin : — The news of our dear Sarah's death was en-
tirely unexpected. 1 had heard she was unwell, and apparently
dechning-, but had no expectation at all that she would so soon be
called hence.
I can sympathize with you, dear cousin, for your case is much
hke my own. In my first session at College I lost my mother, and
in my third my sister; a sister too. whose sweet and engaging dis-
position had made her to be loved by all who knew her. It is my
prayer and my hope that this affliction may be sanctified to us all,
and that, while our ties to earth are being severed one by one, we
may be the closer drawn to our God, and may place our affections
more and more in heaven, where there is no more sickness nor
sorrow, nor pain nor death. My return to New York this fall was
rendered solemn by several circumstances. About a month ago,
one of our Sunday School teachers, an amiable and pious young
lady, died ; and last Monday, a sister of another. These circum-
stances seem to have cast a gloom over the circle of our friends
here, which is increased by the dangerous illness of two or three
others. Truly we hve in a world of death, and it seems strange
that we should ever seek for happiness in such a world.
" None but Jesus
Can do helpless sinners good."
Messrs. Scott, Freeman, and Warren, with their wives, expect
to sail from Philadelphia for India next Monday. Father is at
Philadelphia now, and will not return until they go. I became
very much attached to Brother Scott this summer. He was for-
merly my Bible class teacher at College, and it was very pleasant
to renew our mutual acquaintance again. His wife is spoken of
as a most superior woman ; I have been much disappointed in not
seeing her. Mr. and Mrs. Warren spent a day or two with us, in
the fore-part of this week.
Your affectionate cousin.
W. M. Lowrie.
Princeton, February 22d, 1839.
Mr. John Lloyd —
Df:ar Brother: — I have not laughed as heartily this session,
as I did when reading that "called in the vernacular tongue" let-
ter you sent me some time ago. My good landlady, by whom I
was sitting, said there must be something very funny in it, for she
never knew me to laugh so before. I have just been reading it
over, and feel my spirits quite elevated.
This has been a great day here among the College students.
They had some twenty or twenty-five speeches, (Senior,) all deliv-
ered in our Seminary Chapel, as their own is not large enough.
LETTERS. 33
They have one very amusing custom here on such occasions :
some of the wittier chaps get together and form a hst containing
the names of all who speak, to each of which they add a subject,
and tlie name of some tune. In all these subjects, tunes, (fcc,
there is some allusion to some peculiarity in the speakers
1 attended but for a few minutes, being busy with my Hebrew
and a Report for Society of Inquny. We find it difficult even
here to keep up the interest in our Society of Inquiry, though the
organization is very perfect. The Connnittee meetings here are
almost as profitable as those of the Society of Inquiry, as we
usually discuss some question, or have an essay on some subject
connected with the object of the Committee.
On the subject of personal religious feeling, I suppose I can
sympathize with you as formerly. It is distressing to feel that
we ought to be more engaged in the service of God, and yet feel a
deadness, a numbness of all the moral feelings, when we contem-
plate divine things. In such a condition, the word of God, while
we see that it has force, makes no impression on us ; prayer seems
more like a task than a pleasure ; meditation is a tedious, taste-
less thing. And yet we cannot feel happy in the world ; that
does not satisfy us ; that cannot fill the aching void. But it is
profitable to be left thus, at times ; for then we feel more and
more our own weakness, and perhaps it would not do for persons
constituted as you and I are, to enjoy too much of mere comfort :
we would place our hearts too much on the pleasure, and be in
danger of forgetting Him from whom it came. On this subject
there is great danger, too, of our making mistakes, and, because
we do not enjoy religion as much as formerly, of thinking we are
not as engaged as we were then. The truth, I suppose, is, that
we are not to measure our standard of piety by our enjoyment, so
much as by the steadiness of our purpose of self-consecration to
God. The more willing we feel to renounce all for him, to sub-
mit to him, to be anything or nothnig as he chooses — indeed, to
have our wdl entirely swallowed up in his, just so far, and no far-
ther, do we grow in grace. Like John the Baptist we shall say
of our Saviour, "He must increase, but I must decrease." And
there is a pleasure in lying d >wn at the feet of Jesus, and yielding
ourselves to him, which may not be accompanied with tumultuous
joy, but it brings a calm and holy peace which the world never
knew. At such times we look on death and the grave without
fear, nay, almost with desire ; for, though we are willing to labor
our three score years and ten, yet we feel that " to be with Christ
is far better." Dear brother, when you feel your heart so cold,
does it not rejoice you to think that in heaven it will not be so? —
that there you shall know and love as much as you wish, and
that these vexing cares and trying experiences will be no more 1
" There is an hour of peaceful rest
To mourning wanderers given ;
3
34 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
There is a joy for souls distressed —
A balm for every wounded breast :
'Tis found above — in heaven."
Wherefore, my brother, comfort your heart with these words.
The Psahnist, in his affliction, remembered God "from the land
of the Hermonites, and the hill Mizar." There is a land and a
hill to which you can refer with feeling-s of joy — I need not say
where nor when. I commenced the preceding page with my own
heart in the dust ; but these thoughts have gladdened it and re-
freshed me.
I think you will be highly delighted with the Seminary course,
especially the study of Hebrew ; nothing ever delighted me so
much, in the way of study, as that venerable language; and the
facihties of studying it are now so great that any one may ac-
quire it. Get Nordheimer's Grammar by all means, and don't
think of any other ; it is a real treat to read that Grammar.
I must close, but only for want of time to write more. The
Jefferson students here are all well, and, if they knew I was writ-
ing, would doubtless ask to be remembered to you.
Farewell. — Pray for me.
In Christian love, yours,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Princeton, April 19th, 1839.
Mr. Roger Owen —
Dear Brother : — You are now probably returned, and are
about to commence your pastoral visitation. I could wish to be
along with you, to go from house to house, and step in and chat a
few moments, and say something about the weather, and something
about the school, and, on a good occasion, something for our Mas-
ter,— and then pass on. May our Father bless you in your visits,
and in all you do about that beloved school. I hope and pray
you may find your highest expectations more than realized, and
that the Lord will come down, and make bare his arm in your
midst this summer. Remember me very kindly to Prof. Smith.
As to advice about conducting the school, &.c., I am not competent
to give any that would be of much use to you. I hope sincerely
you will still continue the missionary talks; and, if you have op-
portmiity, it might be well for you to get as many of the people as
possible to take the Chronicle.
Permit me to congratulate you on your success at the last Con-
test. I can do so, without anything of the spirit of Society which
I felt when at College; and I may also add my earnest hope, that
my dear brother will not be injured, as too many others have been,
by the honors of this world, which, though glittering, are unsatis-
fying ; though apparently full, are empty ; though promising
much, are deceitful.
We shall look for you here next fall, and I hope to have work
LETTERS. 35
ready for you, when you do come. You will find some warm
hearts ready to receive you ; and, however you may be disap-
pointed as to the degree of piety here, you will still find many and
great, and exceeding precious privileges, and means of preparing
for future usefulness, which you would not probably find else-
where. But bring with you the pure and glowing flame of piety,
or you will find it ditficult to kindle it here. As is the standard
of piety in Colleges, so, very nearly, will it be in the Seminary.
They who are faithful or unfaithful in the lower sphere, will be
much the same in the higher. I hope, especially, you will make
your influence felt in the Brainerd Evangelical Society. It is
^ your last summer, and I am sure you will find no greater privi-
leges here than you enjoy there. That Society ought to do much,
and you should not confine your eflforts merely to attempt to kin-
dle the flame in your own breast, though even this you will find
hard work. It is best roused by active exertion in endeavoring to
go out of one's self You know our two resolutions, to " converse
with the impenitent," and ''■to converse with Christians;" what-
ever you may do about the former of these, the latter is worth a
serious trial again. Both had an excellent etfect on us that sum-
mer. But I am lecturing to you with as much authority as if I
were your master, and not merely your fellow-servant. Did you
ever observe that all the seven epistles in Rev. ii. and iii. com-
mence, "I know thy works 'V There is something curious and
worthy of thought about that.
Monday, April 22nd. Dr. Brown came to my room on Friday
night, and the Jefferson students assembled, and we had an
hour's talk, and sung and prayed twice. It was as much as I
could do to keep from weeping, when the venerable old Doctor
raised the first tune. It seemed like former times, when we met
in the Senior Hall, and lifted up our hearts to God.
Your affectionate brother in Christ,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Princeton, June 24th, 1839.
Mr. John Lloyd —
Dear Brother : — .... I am very sorry you cannot come
here in the fall. To me nothing would afford greater pleasure ;
for one of kindred spirit with myself, to enter fully hito all my
feelings and sympathize with me, I have not found since we parted
—at least, none like yourself It pains me now at times, when I
think how much more profitable we might have been to each
other in the Christian life. But it also rejoices me, to think of our
seasons of Christian intercourse, and of the long walks we had
over the hills, when we talked of heaven, and our hearts burned
as our Saviour met with us by the way. Do you ever now enjoy
such seasons ? Yesterday Dr. Alexander preached on 2 Cor. iii. 18 ;
" We all, with open face," «fcc. While preaching, a few thoughts
36 MEMOIR OP WALTER M. LOWRIE.
of the astonishing- condescension and love of Jesus, the great God,
taking our nature upon him, and living " manifest in the flesh,"
seemed to fill my mind. I could readily conceive of a Christian's
8oul being swallowed up in contemplation of God's character and
the Saviour's love. Oh ! the riches of boundless, endless grace !
Yet it is not often this icy heart is thus melted, and oh, it is much
easier for the flame once kindled to die away, than to mount up
and reach towards heaven. Dear brother, pray for me. The
Christian's life is a warfare, and more and more do I feel that
every day must witness conflicts and battles sore and long. Why
should the soldiers slumber when the enemy is upon them? Es-
pecially why should the leaders be remiss when the danger is so
urgent ?
The subject of missions receives some attention here, but not
what it deserves. Last term the interest was considerable, and
there were twelve or fifteen who looked forward to the foreign
field as their future destination. How flourishes the spirit of mis-
sions at College? You have never mentioned this in any of your
letters. 1 hope the Brainerd Society prospers. That band of bro-
thers might do wonders; they ought to do much. So we all
should. But oh ! how cold ovu- love, how weak our faith is found.
" Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Most truly yours,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Princeton, July 10th, 1839.
Mr. Roger Owen —
Dear Brother: — Your last letter contained good and bad
news. I almost envied you the privilege of going round among
those dear people, and of superintending that beloved school ; but
I rejoiced that you accomplished so much, and that the Lord
seemed so to smile on your efforts. May his blessing crown them
with greater and yet greater success ! I wish you would write to
me soon, and draw off a little diagram of the school, and mark
down the position of every class, number of scholars in it, and
teacher's name. You have been making such additions to the
school that I don't know how you look ; and then just give me the
order of exercises.
The bad news in your letter was the illness of Mrs. S. and
Mrs. G. By a letter to Griffith, I hear they are both called away.
The stroke fell heavily upon me, and I was forced to feel the truth
of the sentiments of a piece in my Albiun, written by Mary Ann.
"Oh what a changeful world is this," &c. The news of their
death, though feaied for some time, caiiie unexpectedly ; I did
hope to see at least one of them in the fall. I shall never forget
an expression used by Mrs. S., when I was sitting by the window
in their house one Sabbath morning. She suddenly spoke to me;
" Mr. Lowrie, don't you expect to go to India ?" I told her yes.
LETTERS. 37
" Well, I just thought so ;" and soon after she said with deep eaio-
tion, " Well, Mr. Lowrie, we will think of you when you go there."
My heart was full, and I could only say, " I hope so." If the spir-
its of the blest may look down and see their friends on earth, per-
haps she and her daughter will think of me, but they will never
on earth again see me or hear of me.
" Yet why should we a drop bemoan,
Who have the fountain near."
And while Jesus thinks of us, and he will never forget us, why
should we sorrow too much for the encouragements of our friends ?
Tell me a good deal in your next about their last days ; and if
you could secure me some little memento of either or both of
them, I would prize it highly.
Now a little about myself I was at home in May and half of
June, but did very little ; came back here about the middle of
June, and found my hands full of business at once, besides the
regular studies of the Seminary. I have charge of the Seminary
Library, of a prayer-meeting weekly in Queenston, about one mile
from the Seminary, and about two weeks ago, when the superin-
tendent of our Sunday School in Q,ueenston resigned, I was unan-
imously elected to fill his place. The school is small, but much
out of order just now, consequently I have much to do. Come on
in the fall, and we will have a class ready for you. Last Sabbath
morning, I got to thinking how we used to walk about, and go up
and down those long steep hills, and all around there. " The
memory of joys that are past is like the music of Caryl, pleasant
and momnful to the soul."
We have a couple' of brethren in the seminary going out to
Africa in two weeks, Canfield and Alward ; the former is licensed
to preach, the latter is not yet. They go to explore, and will
probably return and spend the first unhealthy season here. I
feel a deep interest in that mission. Three others go to India in
the fall. There are, besides these, ten or eleven others here who
look forward to the work of missions, besides several who are ex-
amining the subject. Remember us in your prayers. Please
write soon.
My time is up and I must bid you good-by. The blessing of
our Father in heaven be with you.
Your brother in Christian affection,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Princeton, August 21st, 1839.
To Mr. John Lloyd —
Dear Friend : — Your letter did me good like a cordial. It
convinced me, tliough I did not need that, that there was one per-
son in the world who cared for so useless and insignificant a crea-
38 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
ture as myself; that I was sometimes affectionately remembered
when the lowering clouds without were but an emblem of the
deeper gloom within ; and when despondency seemed to paralyze
the energies of the soul, that still there were those who would
pray for me, and sympathize with me. It was good news from a
far country : and, if you will pardon the comparison, as Jonathan
stripped off his own robe and gave it to David, so did the disposi-
tion and frame you seemed to be in steal over my mind.
There is not much missionary spirit in the Seminary at present,
and few, if any, have lately decided to go abroad. Still there ap-
pears to be an under-current of feeling on the subject, which, we
hope, will soon manifest itself openly. I have not yet decided
where to go, and do not expect to, for some time. But let me
whisper in your ear, for I don't want it known, that I look to a
field nearer home than China, or even North India. Don't hold
up your hands in astonishment at this — I mean Western Africa,
the white man's grave. There has been a great change of feeling
in the Seminary, in regard to this field, since I came here. Last
summer, ^t the first part of the session, there was not one student
who even thought of Western Africa as a missionary field. But
during the course of the last winter, one, and then another, of the
brethren determined to go to Western Africa, and they have now
gone. May our Father go with them ! I look on this experiment
with deep interest ; — it is yet an experiment, but I hope it will be
successful.
My religious feelings are exceedingly cold at present. It is dif-
ficult to be always engaged in the critical study of the Bible, and
collateral objects of inquiry, and not have the mind at times drawn
away from the spirit to the mere letter of the commands. Yet I
do at times, even in recitation, obtain a glimpse of Him whom my
soul loveth ; and O, how sweet is his countenance ! The doc-
trine of justification by faith has appeared to me in a clearer light
this summer than ever before ; and though sometimes the " old
man" seems to revolt against it, yet it always seems the most
glorious to God, and worthy of acceptance. It gives an immova-
ble ground of confidence, and removes every reason for despair.
O that we may both heartily embrace it, and be saved for Christ's
sake only !
Write to me soon.
Your brother in Christ,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Princeton, December 5th, 1839.
My Dear Mother —
I am afraid you will think I am forgetting you entirely ; but I
am kept so busy by various matters, that there seems to be no
time for correspondence, or writing, or any of the social duties.
We have received forty-seven new students this session, and
LETTERS. 39
probably will receive a few more. Much to my gratification, two
of my most intimate College friends are among the number. This,
with other mercies, makes my cup overliow. My health has con-
tinued very good. I felt rather lonely in leaving home to come
here, and it did seem but too short a time to spend but two weeks
with you
Yours affectionately,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Princeton, December 11th, 1839.
Mr. John Lloyd —
Dear Brother : — Your very welcome epistle was taken up
principally in proposing objections to Western Africa as a mission-
ary field ; and I was glad to read them ; not that they have al-
tered the current of my desires, but they brought the subject fully
before me again.
Your objections were — 1st. The unhealthiness of Western Af-
rica, and 2nd. The prospects of usefulness in North India or
China. The first is a strong one, and even stronger, perhaps, than
you suppose ; in one point of view, and to one ignorant of the facts,
it is so. Of one huftdred and ten missionaries sent by the Church
Missionary Society, in the course of thirty years, a very large propor-
tion died in two or three months, and vastly the majority before
they did anything : yet the very first one who went out lived
twenty-three years, and several others shorter periods. But the
question is, why so many died so soon? Answer: 1st. Because
of the unhealthiness of the climate. 2nd. Because far less was
known of the climate of W estern Africa by medical men than of
almost any other tropical country ; and therefore their remedies
were not so skilfully applied, nor preventives so effectually used
in the first instance. 3d. Because many of the missionaries act-
ed exceedingly rashly when they first commenced operations.
They came from England and Germany, and, in some cases, with
insufficient accommodations on their voyage. They commenced
their labors immediately. During the hot summer they preached
two or three times every Sabbath, superintended schools during
the week, worked at hard work often. Others, particularly fe-
males, died of complaints not peculiar to any climate. As to the
first reason, it is with me a question whether the climate of Africa
is at all more unhealthy than that of India.
Now for the second. — The prospect, of doing a great deal of good
is very flattering in India. But is Africa to be left until India is
evangelized? Perhaps, also, we do not at all know what the
prospects are in Africa. I am inclined to think them very exten-
sive. Certainly our missionaries have their hands full, and much
more. What else can they say in India? Again, the human
heart is the same everywhere ; yet I apprehend that there are not
so many obstacles in Africa to the conversion of the natives as
40 MEMOIR OF "WALTER M. LOWRIE.
there are in India. They are a ruder people ; they have less to
pride themselves upon in the way of sciences, arts, and wealth,
than the Hindus ; and we know that not many noble, not many
mighty, are called. True, the Lord is able to convert the learned
and proud, just as well as the ignorant and degraded ; blessed be
his name lor it : yet still, do we not commonly find, that a)nong
the latter there are more cases of hopeful conversion than among
the former? But I have not time now to continue the subject.
These are some of the reasons, barely mentioned, and thrown
together without any order, that combine to make me prefer
Western Africa. China, I fear, is to me out of the question.
My hfe will probably be short at best, and I certainly expect the
greater part of it would be gone before I could master that lan-
guage. Siam I might like on some accounts. I have talked of
India often, and while my brother was there, I thought of that
country ; but it has never appeared to me in so inviting an aspect
as it has to some others. My sympathies are awakened for Af-
rica. My judgment, perhaps influenced somewhat by my sympa-
thies, speaks for her ; the prospects of usefulness call loudly ;
objections do not seem so strong to me as to some others ; and
" Here am I, Lord," is all I have to say about this subject. My
mind is not made up, and will not be, till I have more carefully
examined the subject. The Lord direct my inquiries, and yours
also, my dear brother.
We are now engaged in studying theology — an interesting, de-
lightful, and infinite subject.
Yours in the most cordial Christian love,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Princeton, January 2d, 1840.
My Dear Mother —
.... I sometimes find it very difficult to refrain from quoting
the words of Scripture, to point a joke or to adorn a tale. The
words are suggested to the mind so appropriately, that it seems as
if we could hardly help using them. Yet this certainly is a temp-
tation either of Satan or our own deceitful hearts, and therefore
should be avoided. It is a hard thing so to keep our lips that they
offend not, and one is reminded sometimes of that Scripture, " If
any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able
also to bridle the whole body." How inconceivable to us poor
creatures it seems, that our Saviour, in all his stay upon earth,
never spoke an idle word ; yet such was the fact.
Last Sabbath I was reading Psalm xci. in the Sabbath School.
The last verse is, "With long life will I satisfy him, and show
him my salvation." The word "satisfy," has great force and
expressiveness here. Men generally are not satisfied with life;
they wish it were longer, and when about to die, they shrink back
from the approaching conflict. The life too of the child of God
LETTERS.
41
may end here ; but the promise is, that hereafter he shall be satis-
fied with hfe ; and as nothing less than eternal life wiU satisfy the
souls in heaven, there they shall be satisfied. . . .
Very affectionately yours,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Princeton, January 7th, 1840.
Mr. Thomas W. Kerr —
Dear Cousin :— ^. . . Our class is on the whole quite a pleasant
one ; we have some * en in it of superior talents, and I trust we have
some of deep, devoted piety. At present there is quite an inter-
esting state of fechng in the class, on the subject of personal duty
to the heathen ; and several of the class are inquiring very seriously
as to their own duty. There are twelve or fifteen in the Seminary
who expect to be missionaries, and from present appearances we
hope there will be eight or ten more soon ; yet this is not a suffi-
cient proportion ! It does seem as if many of our theological stu-
dents were unwilling to examine this subject. I would hope that
such is not the case with the brethren in your Seminary, but dare
hardly believe it. Oh that we could all feel more deeply on this
subject, one that concerns so nearly our present and future hap-
piness, the welfare of immortal souls, and the glory of God.
Among those in the Seminary who have decided to be mission-
aries, quite a pleasant, even a delightful feeling exists, and it is
good to be with them.
I should like dearly to have a good social chat with you, like
some of those we used to have in Ganonsburg. I look back on
my intercourse with you and Elizabeth, as among my most pleas-
ant times in Ganonsburg; and Miller's Run, and the old log
school-house — church 1 mean — and the shady trees, and the acorns
falling down instead of gourds. But I am at the end of my sheet.
Farewell — pray for me. May the richest blesshigs of our Father
in heaven rest on you both.
Your affectionate cousin and Ghristian brother,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Princeton, February 21st, 1840.
Mr. John M. Lowrie —
Dear Gousin: — . ... I was reading Turrettin's Theology this
morning, about the tree of life, and the comparison he instituted
between the tree of life and Ghrist was really most delightful. I
could almost believe I was in heaven partaking of its fruits, nu-
merous and varied and rich as they are ; sitting under its shade,
and quaffing of the river of tlie water of life, that flows from the
throne of God and the Lamb. Oh for that happy time when
faith shall be turned to sight, and expectation to the full fruition
of the holy joys of heaven. But alas, the language of mourning
42 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
and sorrow suits nie best. I know but in part, and I am sancti-
fied but in part. I see but through a glass darkly, and eternal
things fade away in the distance, while earthly trifles fill the mind.
But it will not always be so. The Lord prepare us, both living
and dying, to glorify his name !
.... With my present views of the holy ministry, I would
rather spend four years than three in preparing directly for it, and
certainly I think there will be no reason to regret having spent a -
session extra in reference to it.
I find that in every place I have still the^ame evil heart, the
same proneness to depart from God ; . and I fear very much, lest
after a v^'hile, the exercises of this place, admirably calculated as
they appear to be for the cultivation of piety, should degenerate
with me into a mere round of formal duties. Nothing but con-
stant dependence on God, and constant renunciation of ourselves,
can possibly secure us from danger.
I am more and more convinced that the Bible, the word of God,
should be the great study of the minister of God, and that all
other studies should be subservient to this. Even theology is only
valuable so far as it gives us clearer views of what the Bible
teaches, and connected views of its great doctrines. With a com-
prehensive and extended knowledge of the Bible as a whole, and
in detached portions, we shall be workmen that need not be
ashamed.
Your affectionate cousin, W. M. Lowrie.
Sabbath Evening, March 8th, 1840.
Mr. John Lloyd —
Dear Brother : — I never think of writing a letter on the
Sabbath, except to some intimate Christian friend, or other person,
with whom I wish to hold religious intercourse ; and it seems to
me that it is as lawful to do this as to hold Christian conversation
with a Christian brother for consolation, or with an impenitent per-
son for his conviction. Do you remember the day of the month
when we joined the church together? I have forgotten the. pre-
cise date, but it must have been about this tiiue five years ago.
Five years ! How little could we, or did we, then know of what
should happen in the time that has already past ! How little did
we know of the trials, and difficulties, and temptations we should
have to encounter in our Christian course. I verily fear that, could
1 have foreseen these difficulties I should have greatly doubted, or
but for the grace of God should have even despaired of ever strug-
gling on for five years amidst them. Now I do not regret what is
past. When one is once fairly through with any difficulty, he
cannot find it in his heart to regret that he has encountered it.
But to look forward, for five, or it may be fifty years, and to think
of maintaining a constant contest with in-dwelling sin ! Surely
it may well appal the stoutest heart. Yet, we may answei' this
LETTERS. 43
fear in two ways. He that has led us, and fed us in the wilder-
ness so long, will not now desert us ; and it argues great want of
faith, and much ingratitude, to suspect that God's feelings toward
us vary and change with the transient emotions of our own vari-
able minds. And second, we go entirely beyond our sphere when
we think of calculating how long we have to live, and how long
we have to contend with Satan. " There is but a step between
me and death." We know not that we shall see either fifty or five
years ; nay, before this letter reaches its destination, one or other
of us may have gone where there is no need of watchfulness and
fightings. How foolish, then, to harass our minds with vain doubts
and fears of what we cannot tell shall ever happen to us. Our
duty is concerned only with the present time. " Secret things,"
except as revealed by prophecy, " belong unto the Lord our God,"
and he will direct them best.
You have probably had these thoughts often in your mind, yet
the knowledge that they have sometimes had a good effect on the
mind of your Christian brother, may not be ungrateful to you.
I have to mourn my exceeding coldness and deadness in religion ;
while I have hardly ever had clearer views of religious things than
for some time past, yet it has seemed to me that my affections have
never been less vigorous than during the same period. I see so much
with the intellectual eye, which the heart does not appear to be at
all aware of, that I must lie very low before God. I often wonder
why I am yet spared, and fear very greatly that I shall never be
of any use in the ministry, so that often " my soul chooses death
rather than life." True, this feeling of despondency is not right,
and doubtless it often arises more from disappointed pride than
from true humility. Oh, who can understand his ways ! — " Lord,
cleanse thou me from secret faults, and keep thy servant back
from presumptuous sins."
Did you ever meditate on Psalm xcii. 13 ? " Those that be
planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our
God." Does that mean that those who commence to live in God's
service here, though it be but a commencement, a plantings shall
live forever, and flourish in the upper sanctuary above ? This is
certainly true, but does this verse teach it ? We are but nursery
plants here, soon to be taken to the Paradise of God, there to
flourish evermore. How consoling is this to our weakness, and
doubts and fears !
In the Sabbath School of which I have charge, there are some
hopeful prospects, but alas ! few and faint. — The longer I live the
more I see of my own deficiencies, and of my unfitness for the
great work, — and ray faith does not appear to grow in proportion
to the difficulties that meet me. How hard it is to conquer self-
righteousness, and trust fully and secvuely on Jesus Christ alone.
Pray for me.
Your truly aflfectionate brother in Christ,
W. M. LOWRIE.
44 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Princeton, April 30th, 1840.
Mr. John Lloyd —
Dear Brother : — .... Our session is very near its end,
and I am heartily glad of it, for I am nearly worn down. I felt
more completely sick yesterday than I have done for nearly five
years ; and, though better to-day, I am still weak. This earthly
house will be dissolved, certainly before many years, it may be,
in a short time ; and then, what awaits me? I can look forward
to death without apprehension, sure that Christ can and will save
me, and feeling that there is none other who can ; yet I feel often
afraid that so unprofitable a servant will not be received. Surely
it would not be on account of my own e5certions, were I ever so
useful ; yet I fear lest I have been so unprofitable as to have given
no proofs of being really a servant. But though often depressed
on account of a prevailing sense of unworthiness and sin, and
scarcely ever experiencing much joy, yet I do have peace, through
our Lord Jesus Christ.
I have been often of late at the bed-side of an aged Christian,
who is gradually sinking away, like
" The western evening light,
Which melts in deepening gloom."
I asked him yesterday morning, if he still enjoyed the peace of
God ? " Oh, yes, constantly ; not a cloud is on my mind : I seem
to have no will of my own, but am waiting the Lord's time." He
seems, truly, ready to depart ; and though his death will be a
severe trial to his family, and to myself, yet it will be to him but
going home. Were it not that, perhaps, there is something for
me yet to do in this world, I could wish to be in his place. Yet
not my will, but thine, O Lord, be done.
Mr. Canfield, who has been to Western Africa, on an exploring
mission, returned a few weeks since. He has been here for three
or four days, most of the time in my room ; and I have had much
conversation with him on that field. He is so well pleased that
he intends returning as soon as the Board will send him, and is
very anxious I should go as soon as I leave the Seminary. I cer-
tainly feel very greatly inclined that way, though not disposed to
do anything rashly in the matter. I must know before long what
is my duty. What say you ? I wish we could have a full and
free conversation on the subject, for a letter will not contain the
tenth part of what I could say. I think the result of this mission
has made it pretty certain that the way is open, and the prospects
for life and usefulness fair ; and it is certainly one of the most
interesting missionary fields in the world. At present I stand in
this position : if I were to oflTer myself to the Board to-day, I would
say, " Send me to any part of the world, and I will go. I do not,
however, wish to go to our Western Indians, and would prefer
Western Africa." The matter is coming home to me now, for it
LETTERS. 45
may be my duty to offer myself to the Board during this year ;
and I rejoice to be able to say, that I never felt more willing to do
so. It is a wonderful thing that such poor creatures as we should
be allowed to do anything for the honor of our God, and that he
should condescend to accept our weak endeavors.
. . . This is a lovely country in the evening. I am never weary
of gazing on the vast plain from my window, and watching the
variegated appearance it presents. The trees have now become
quite green, and about sunset it presents a scene of surpassing
beauty. I do not know whether other persons enjoy scenery as
much as I do, but it has a most soothing effect on my mind ; and
yet, gaze on it as I may, there is still a longing after something
more — something higher, something holier, a longing after heaven,
where we shall have no desires that cannot be satisfied. Such a
view as is now spread out before my window always reminds me
of heaven ; and very often, of our icalk over the hills, when the
glory of heaven appeared to us both.
Your brother in Christ,
W. M. LOWRIE.
New York, July 27th, 1840.
To A Sabbath School Scholar —
My Dear William : — I am persuaded that the accompanying
little book will not be an unacceptable memento of a former
friend — of one who not only formerly was your friend, but who
still feels in you an interest not easily to be expressed. The book
has a quaint title, but it is written by somebody who knows much
of the world, much of the heart, and much of his Bible. In this
case, as in many others, you will find, that a plain title is like the
old sign over the door of a rich merchant. It may not be very
inviting on the outside, but when you enter you are charmed by
the variety, the order, and the value of the merchandise ; and at
every step your admiration for the occupant is increased. I need
not ask you to read the book, for its own merits would soon in-
duce you to do that ; and I feel sure that your friendship for me
would incUne you to do so. But I do ask you to ponder well the
contents of some of its chapters, such as " The Warning," p. 150,
and others. You will find them full of weighty matters, and, with
the blessing of God, they may often direct you in your course
through life, and make you wise unto salvation.
It seems but a little while since we used to meet together in the
Session-room, and enjoy our mutual interviews ; and yet two years
have passed. It would be in vain for me to attempt to tell you
how often my thoughts run back to that time, and the pleasure
that the recollection of my intercourse with my beloved class af-
fords me. It is a green spot in a journey, the most of which has
been a pleasant one; it is a flower of a brighter hue, and sweeter
smell, in a garden where many " plants of desire" have grown ;
46 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
and though at times a deep depression of spirits does come over
me, yet even then the remembrance of my former acquaintance
with you, is " the memory of joys that are past — pleasant and
mournful to the soul." But the probability is, that we shall not
often meet tog-ether again. Our lots are likely to be widely apart,
our occupations to be very different. When we do meet, we shall
probably meet but for a short time, soon to part. Let not our
parting be forever. We must meet yet once again, and after that
there will either be no more parting, or an eternal separation.
My dear William, what would I not give to see you a follower of
the meek and lowly Jesus ? — to see you acknowledging him as
your Master ; adorning his cause by the talents you possess ;
seeking not your own glory, but his who made you ; pleasing not
yourself, but him who has done so much for you. Let me entreat
you to make your peace with God, through Jesus Christ.
I am sorry for your present indisposition, but perhaps it is sent
in mercy, to remind you that you are here but for a season, and
to excite you to come to Him now, and find salvation. Such is
God's usual object in sending affliction of any kind, and though
for the present it may seem " not joyous but grievous, yet after-
wards it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness to them
that are exercised thereby." I need hardly tell you why it is so
important that you should seek religion now. You know that
this is the best time ; that delays are dangerous ; that mercy,
which is now waiting, may not always wait ; that the longer you
continue impenitent, the more sinful you become, and the less
disposed to turn to religion. You know that religion is not a
gloomy thing, for what can there be in religion to make a man
sad ? Surely not that God is reconciled to him, not that his sins
are pardoned, and that he has the hope of heaven. Religion has
its sorrows, but the sorrows of the world are far greater, and far
more lasting. Religion has its joys, which the world knows not—
joys more lasting than time, more precious than earth's jewels.
Peace with God, peace in the heart, the joy of holiness and con-
formity to God, the expectation of perfect holiness hereafter, —
these are joys that will remain with their possessor in sickness
as well as in health, in poverty as well as in riches, in death
as well as in life, in the convulsions of nature, when the heavens
are dissolved, and the elements melt with fervent heat, as well as
in the quiet moments of retirement, and the calm solitudes of
holy meditation.
I have written to you freely, because I wished to do you good,
and because I hope your friendship for me will induce you to
receive with kindness a few words of affectionate counsel. When
I have gone far hence to the Gentiles, may I not hope still to live
in your memory, — and may I not trust that my intercourse with
you has been both pleasant and profitable? Farewell — may the
God of all grace bless you, for Christ's sake.
Yours most truly, W. M. Lowrie.
LETTERS.
47
New York, July 27th, 1840.
To A Sabbath School Scholar —
My Dear Charles : — Accompanying this, I send you a small
book, as a memento of myself,— not that I fear you will soon, if
ever, forget the pleasant times of other years, wlien as teacher and
scholar we met together ; — but because the sight of anytiiing that
once belonged to an absent friend, will easily recall him to mind,
and often awaken associations that would otherwise have slept in
the bosom. And what associations will the sight of anything
that recalls me to your recollection, awaken? Our intercourse
has been principally in the Sabbath School. It was short, but it
was pleasant. I loelieve our affection and friendship for each
other was mutual, and, at the present time, few things afford me
more pleasure than to remember the hours spent in the corner of
the Session-room, where, with my class around me, we conversed
on the revelation made by a gracious God to his sinful and lost
creatures. And now, in my occasional visits to this place, few
occurrences afford me more gratification than to meet with any
of my former class, and converse with them of other days. In
the moments of gloom and despondency, which at times cloud my
mind, and occasion sorrow such as those who have never felt what
melancholy is can scarcely conceive, there are few things that can
more speedily cheer my mind, and reassure me that there are some
who care for me, than to dwell on the seasons spent in the Chris-
topher street Sabbath School. The pleasure I myself feel, in rec-
ollecting these things, and in meeting with you, assures me that
you feel, to some extent at least, the same pleasure ; for it is com-
monly true that where affection exists at all, it is mutual. " As
in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man."
Such being the interest, then, that I feel in you, you will not won-
der that 1 ask, " what associations will anything that recalls me
to your recollection awaken?" nor to hear that often, when others
around me are slumbering, my thoughts revert to each one of my
class individually, and by name ; and I think — what will become
of this one, and of that one ? Shall I ever meet with them in
this world ? What influence do the instructions they received
from me, exert upon their hearts ? What deep impressions have
they produced ? And when we meet at the last great day, shall
we stand at the right hand of oiu- glorious Judge? Nor will it
surprise you to hear that often I lift up the silent, and the uttered
prayer, for my " beloved scholars" in general, and for each one by
name, that they may be led by a gracious hand, that they may
be kept from the world's temptations, that the instructions they
formerly received, and are now receiving, may be as the good seed
sown in good ground, and producing fruit unto eternal life.
I have been writing of myself, and of my own feelings, but it
was to show you the place you hold in my heart, and to assure
you that no changes of place, no length of time, can alter the in-
48 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
terest I feel in your welfare, temporal and spiritual. Now, my
dear Charles, shall my fondest anticipations concerning you be
realized, or have I been cherishing only the deceitful pliantoais
of a mistaken fancy? Shall my prayers, poor and imperfect, but
sincere, be answered? Shall my efforts for your good be ever
crowned with success ? But I forget myself It is not on this
ground tliat 1 would urge on you the necessity of seeking religion,
and that now. No, the reasons are stronger, the motives are
higher. It is because you are an immortal creature ; because by
nature you are a child of wrath ; because, if your existence is to
be a blessing to you, you must be born again, otherwise it had
been better for you never to have been born ; because, though in
yourself lost, guilty and helpless, there is yet hope, for the Son of
God became man to seek and save them that are lost ; because
he is ready and able to save to the uttermost, if you will believe
on him; because he has a right to you ; because he calls you ;
because the Spirit strives with you ; and because if you come now,
you may find that yet there is room, that salvation is yours ; but if
you delay, the Spirit may be grieved, and take his departure, and
then farewell hope, farewell happiness, farewell God and heaven,
Christ, and his love ; and then — but I cannot suffer myself to
conceive the dreadful alternative when these are lost. Oh, flee
from the wrath to come. "There is now no condemnation to
them that are in Christ Jesus," and you may be in him if you
will. "Ye would not come unto me (hat ye might have life," is
the dreadful charge against those in Christian lands who receive
not eternal life. Oh, that you would lay these things to heart.
If you are laboring and heavy-laden, Christ will give you rest.
He is an all-sufficient, ever-present Saviour ; and aAiidst gloom
and sickness, sorrow and fear, he can deliver and protect you, — •
can bless and save you. You need just such a Saviour, and he
can fill all the desires of your heart.
I know that at times you must feel an aching void within you,
a desire after something you have never yet attained, a longing
after something that will fill the mind. You can find it nowhere
but in Christ. He is altogether lovely, and the more you know
of him the more you will admire him.
Let me recommend to you one thing. I feel persuaded that if
you attempt it, and persevere in it — with prayer for his blessing
— you will experience great benefit, and will ever rejoice that
you attempted it. It is — at least once every week, I wish you
would do it daily — that you take some action of our Saviour, and
consider it carefully ; see what traits of character it exhibits, why
it was performed, and what it teaches ; or, take any one of his say-
ings, and think on it for some time. I would not say how long,
judge of that for yourself; but do not stop thinking upon it too
soon. Take, for instance, the birth of Christ, Luke ii. 7 ; his
weeping over Jerusalem, Luke xix. 41 ; any of his miracles : or
his sayings, such as John iii. 36 ; iv. 14 ; Mark iv. 22, &c. I can
LETTERS.
49
tell you, from my own experience, that few things are more profit-
able.
But it is time for me to stop. Let me entreat again your serious
consideration of these things. If you ever feel disposed to write
to me, it will afford me great pleasure to hear from you, and to
answer your letters. I hope to see you yet exerting such an influ-
ence, and commanding such respect as your talents entitle you to
expect. But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness
— and all these things shall be added unto you,
Yours most truly,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Princeton, August 22d, 1840.
My Dear Mother —
.... The time runs too rapidly for me, and in five weeks more
the session will close. We are but strangers and sojourners here,
soon to go hence. I have been very much struck in reading the
book of Genesis lately, to find how very often Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob, with all their wealth and dependents, still speak of
themselves as strangers, sojourners and pilgrims. Could we only
realize that "here we have no abiding city," the trials and vexa
tions and disappointments that continually befall us would exert
but little influence, and would only induce us, like the traveller, to
hasten forward on our journey. And though it be often a painful
journey, it is one in which we have continual cause to make men-
tion of the loving-kindness of the Lord, who accompanies us, who
guides us, who leads us often by the still waters, and causes us to
lie down in the green pastures. He will be our guide unto death,
and then will not forsake us, " for this God is our God forever and
ever." So may it prove to us all.
Have you ever read Mrs. Hawkes' memoirs? I find them very
instructive, opening up fountains of deep Christian experience, and
displaying many of the deep things of religion. She was a wo-
man of strong mind, sincere piety, great kindness of heart, and
though often in the former part of her life troubled with melan-
choly, yet afterwards uncom nonly cheerful in the midst of severe
sufferings. The best books of human composition require you to
read many pages to obtain any complete view of a person's char-
acter ; but in the Bible, you will find characters drawn most com-
pletely in a single sentence. You will learn more of their dispo-
sition, &c., from an apparently trivial action or expression there
recorded, than from the most labored description in other books.
Why is this ? Truly the law of the Lord is perfect
Yours very truly,
W. M. LOWRIE.
4
50 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Princeton, September 3d, 1840.
Mr. John Lloyd —
My Dear Brother : — .... At the time I received your letter
I was not very well, and shortly afterwards went home and spent
a week there. I was at that time received under the care of the
Second Presbytery of New York, and had my pieces assigned me.
My Latin piece is, "An Christus pro electis solum mortuus sit?"
on which I have written an essay, and translated it into something
that professes to be Latin, and is so long that it covers five foolscap
pages. This, with many and various other duties, has kept me
very busy for several weeks past. My health is now very good,
and I hope, Deo volente, to be hcensed next April, and ordained
soon after.
.... I have just been examining a httle insect on my window,
and comparing its body with those of other insects and with my
own. It is wonderfully different from them in shape, size, mate-
rials, uses, and objects. It has some members I do not possess,
and wants others granted to me. It has life, though not an inch
in length, and it appears to enjoy its existence. It is but one of
an infinitely numerous class of beings, each species of which is so
diff"ereat from every other, that we can hardly conceive of them as
possessing any qualities in common. Yet they have some, for
they all live, they all enjoy life, and they were all made by one
great and glorious Being. How condescending must He be, who
has so curiously wrought their little frames. How wise, thus to
fashion their bodies. How kind, thus to grant them life and hap-
piness. How infinite in knowledge to know all their actions, to
direct and govern all their motions, to foresee and provide for all
their wants. Will He look with indifference on men? Will He
neglect to attend to them when they lift their eyes to Him, and
cry Abba, Father? Surely not.
But how huaibhng is the tliought, that with all our boasted wis-
dom and vaunted power, we cannot understand the hidden mys-
teries of these little insects, nor frame another like ihem. But
then it is a glorious truth, that hereafter we shall know all we
wish to know ; and our knowledge, instead of puffing us up, will
humble us, and cause us to love our God and Saviour more. And
even now, we may look on these little living things, and say, " My
Father made them all." I thank thee, little fly ; the sight of thee
has filled my soul with pleasant thoughts ; and I write them here
that my friend may share them with me
Farewell, — The Lord be with you and bless you.
W. M. LOWRIE.
Princeton, November 16th, 1840.
My Dear Mother — •
Your letter from the distant south, came to me like good news
from a far country. You left New York September 30th, I left it
LETTERS. 51
the next day, and had a pleasant journey to Philadelphia, Canons-
burg, Pittsburg, and Butler, going and returning, a thousand miles
of travel. I spent a most pleasant Sabbath with the church at Mil-
ler's Run, where my old Sunday School is. At Pittsburg the
Synod was in session, and, botli in that city and in Butler, I saw
and spoke to many dear friends. For particulars, I refer you to
the inclosed. On the 5tb of November I arrived at my old room
in Princeton, prepared to say with gratitude. Hitherto the Lord has
helped and blessed me.
I have now got pretty fairly settled down to study. This is my
last session ; I can scarcely realize that so short a time as six
months will finish my theological course. It would not take much
to induce me to begin it again. At present, other duties seem to
call me hence; but who is sufficient for these things?
I shall probably offer myself to the Board as a missionary soon,
unless something of which I know nothing, should occur to pre-
vent. Don't stay so long in the south, that you cannot be back
in time to see me off.
Yours most truly,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Princeton, December 10th, 1840.
To THE Executive Committee of the Board of Foreign
Missions of the Presbyterian Church — -
It has been my wish and intention for several years to spend
my life as a missionary to the heathen. Believing that it is the
duty of the Church in her organized capacity to prosecute the
work of missions, I offer myself to you as a candidate for that
work ; and if accepted, shall hold myself in readiness to enter on
it shortly after the close of the present session of the Theological
Seminary.
I am now in my twenty-second year, and have been a professor
of religion for nearly six years. The work of missions has always
appeared to me to be identical with that of the ministry, requiring
the same talents and preparation, and demanding that those who
engage in it should be actuated by the same motives which influ-
ence those who enter on the ministry at home. The considera-
tions which have influenced me to believe I ought to enter some
foreign field, are, a desire for some such field, considered as a means
of being more useful, and the fact, that while comparatively a
large number are willing to enter the ministry at home, few will
go abroad. The call from heathen lands is loud. It must be
answered, and knowing no particular reason why I should settle
in this country, I feel prepared, with humility, and yet with cheer-
fulness, to say, "Here am I, Lord, send me." In addition to this,
the leadings of Providence, ever since I first joined the church,
and particularly since I entered this Seminary, have seemed to
direct my course far hence to the Gentiles.
52 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
In making you this offer of my services, I shall leave it to the
Committee to decide on my field of labor. My own preferences
however are strongly towards Western Africa, and I am perfectly
willing to take on myself the responsibility of going to that field.
It has been before my mind distinctly for two years and a half,
and before either of your present missionaries to that field had de-
cided to go there. Still, if it be probable that my usefulness would
be greater elsewhere, I shall willingly go to any other field. My
health is not robust, yet commonly it is good. I believe myself to
be more in danger of pulmonary diseases than of any other, but
should probably be less liable to them in a more southern climate
than this.
Praying that the Lord would bless and prosper the cavise of
missions, and all those engaged- either at home or abroad in
furthering it,
I remain with Christian respect and esteem. Yours, (fcc,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Princeton, January 2d, 1841.
Mr. John Lloyd —
Dear John : — Your letter of Dec. 6th, arrived here fifteen days
after date, but though long on the road was a very welcome guest,
and has been interrogated more than once as to the news and
state of matters and things with an old and dearly-beloved friend.
I cannot tell you how much I prize your friendship, nor how I
value your letters ; but I often wonder how you can speak of me
in such glowing terms, when conscious to myself that such lan-
guage is so poorly deserved. I can attribute it only to the uniting
power of our common faith, and the grace of our common Lord,
who seems to have fitted us so well for each other, to be helpers
of each other's joy, and sympathizers in each other's sorrows.
After having been so intimately united in College, is it possible
that we shall never meet again ? You will perhaps wonder at
me if I tell you that within the last three months I have been
within one mile of you without seeing you — yet it was so. c
spent about three weeks in Pittsburg, Butler, and Canonsburg in
October, passing through Greensburgh. To my very great disap-
pointment, however, you had, just before I got in, gone to your
academy, and there was not time to send for you while the stage
stopped. I had a great wish to remain a day, but could not, and
with a heavy heart I left without seeing you. I hoped to have
found you here, but the Lord has seen fit to order it otherwise.
When shall we meet again?
My present plans are, to be licensed in April, — spend the sum-
mer preaching, either in New York or Pennsylvania, — probably,
though not yet decided, to spend another year in the Seminary,
and go out to Africa in 1842. I am now under the care of the
Missionary Board, but there is very little probability of my being
LETTERS. 53
sent off under a year, or a year and a half. Nor am I, considering
my age and qualifications, very anxious to go sooner, though per-
fectly willing to go this next summer, if necessary.
I offered myself to the Board some three weeks since, and ex-
pressed a decided preference for Africa as my field. I may be in
error, but it seems to me that the danger from the climate is very
greatly overrated, and if an entrance into the interior could be ef-
fected, which some English Baptist missionaries are now trying to
do, (he probability is that we could live very well. The country
is populous. We owe them a deep debt. Their superstitions are
old, foolish, and feeble. They have a reverence for white men, and
would probably be willing to receive instruction. There is a glori-
ous promise that " Ethiopia shall soon stretch forth her hands unto
God." Is not the field white to the harvest — where are the
reapers ? . . .
The Lord bless thee, and keep thee, ray brother.
W. M. LOWRIE.
Princeton, January 2d, 1841.
Mr. John O. Proctor —
Dear Brother : — ... It is very humiliating to our pride, to find
how little knowledge we can acquire, after our utmost and perse-
vering efforts. It seems but like a drop in the bucket compared
with the vast amount of knowledge still unexplored, and of whose
very existence oftentimes we are wholly ignorant. What a vast
collection of authors on every subject ! How much deep learning,
profound with eloquence and piety, is treasured up in the works of
other days, and yet how little of it all can we possibly know ! I
feel at times disposed to give up in despair. Life seems too short
to learn even all that a minister needs to know, leaving entirely
untouched what he would wish to understand, but is not compelled
to attend to. Looking at the ministry only so far as mere intel-
lectual qualifications are concerned, who is sufiicient for it? And
yet this is a minor topic. To understand and feel the truths of the
Bible ; to experience deeply the work of the Spirit ; to humble our-
selves before God, and submit our proud hearts implicitly to his
teaching ; to become fools for Christ's sake, that we may be wise ;
to confide ourselves in Clirist's hands, and take him for our all-in-
all, and to live daily near unto him, and growing in conformity to
him — Hoc opus^ hie labor est. It seems to me, that the nearer
I get to the office of the ministry, the less am I prepared for it,
either physically, mentally, or spiritually. Blessed be God for his
promise, " My grace is sufficient for thee." When we are weak,
then we are strong. Pray for me. I shall look for a letter from
you soon.
Yours, in the bonds of Christian affection,
W. M. LOWRIE.
54 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Princeton^ January 26th, 1841.
My Dear Mother —
. . . How checkered and changing is the condition of our family,
— some here, some there ; we meet together for a short time, and
then we part. We are drawn up, as it were, from the sea of hfe,
and, like scattered drops of rain, we fall, some nearer, and some
further off; sometimes so close that we run together, at other
times scattered over wide lands. O that, hke the rain, we may
refresh and fertilize every spot we touch, and be the means of mak-
ing even " the wilderness to bud and blossom like the rose." Like
the drops of rain too, we are but for a moment ; we are changed
into vapor that soon vanisheth away. Even such is our life —
" like the foam on the water," we are cut off. So be it, — the num-
ber of our months is with God, and our days are determined. He
knoweth what is best for us. . . .
Yours affectionately,
W. M. Lowrie.
Bedford, N. Y., May 26th, 1841.
My Dear Mother —
I have spent the week here very pleasantly. On the Sabbath I
preached twice, and attended a funeral, five miles off. These ex-
ercises wearied me very much.
I have just had one of the longest jaunts among the rocks I
have had for some time. After ascending a number of small hil-
locks, each higher than the preceding, and each crowned with sev-
eral large rocks, I reached the top of the highest hill. The pros-
pect was beautiful, and on several sides extensive. Whilst resting,
I began to observe more minutely the top of the hill. Several
large rocks shot up obliquely from beneath the ground ; a few
moderate-sized trees were growing among them ; and 1 found sev-
eral little delicate flowers — a violet, a little white flower, and va-
rious kinds of grasses. What a contrast between the everlasting
rocks and the fading flowers, and yet both were found side by side.
1 could not help thinking of the way in which the Bible sometimes
groups together the grandest, and at the same time the most lovely
of God's attributes ; for example —
"Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion
endureth throughout all generations. The Lord upholdeth all that
fall, and raiseth up all that be bowed down." — Psalm cxlv. 13, 14.
So admirably do the book of nature and the book of revelation
agree, when they speak of our heavenly Father. Pursuing my
observations farther, I found several busy ants tugging away at
their several loads, a little wood spider, and several delicately
formed little flies, all busy, and all apparently happy. Yet though
so small, God — the same God that founded the hills, and hardened
the rocks — was watching over them, and supplying their wants.
LETTERS. 55
I admired the wisdom and goodness displayed in everything there,
and with, I trust, a good deal of the spirit of a true worshipper, I
knelt down on the hill-top to offer praises and prayers to him,
whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain, and who yet dwells
in the humble and the contrite heart. Such seasons are like fore-
tastes of heaven. I may never revisit that solitary place, yet I
hope often to remember it
Yours most affectionately, W. M. Lowrie.
Detroit, June 24th, 1841.
Dear Mother —
After leaving New York, the usual incidents of travel brought
me to Buffalo at 7 o'clock, p. m., on Saturday. I found a hearty
welcome at the Rev. .T. C. Lord's, where I spent the Sabbath, and
preached for him, and on Monday took the steamboat for Detroit,
where I arrived on Wednesday morning. I was most kindly
received by R. Stuart, Esq., and his lady. This seems to be a
very pleasant city ; the upper part of Jefferson Avenue is really
beautiful. Roses are out in full bloom, and have been out for sev-
eral days. I went over to the Canada shore yesterday, and strolled
up the river two or three miles. I saw a red-coated sentinel patrol-
ling up and down the wharf, and on asking an American how long
he had been there, I received for an answer, — " Three years."
" What was he doing ?" " Keeping the dogs off the ferry-boat."
In this city a great many people talk French, and they have a
French Roman Catholic church. I heard a most excellent prac-
tical discourse last evening by Bishop McCoskrey. It made me
feel that though I was a stranger here, yet there were those here
whom I might hope to meet in a better world, where we shall
know perfectly.
I find doing nothing is hard work, and steamboat travelling is
not what some think it is. However, a little shaking in the
Michigan stages, on their primitive railroads, and perhaps on horse-
back, may be of service to health. I can hardly believe that I am
more than six hundred miles away from home. I often think,
and not unpleasantly, of the Scriptural phrase, " Strangers and
pilgrims." There is a great deal of meaning and beauty in the
verse —
" While through this changing world we roam,
From infancy to age —
Heaven is the Cliristian pilgrim's home,
His rest at every stage."
I could not help thinking, as we came up the lake, that we pass
through life, like a boat over the waters ; and that the things
which now occupy our attention, though, like the waves, they
may amuse us for a moment, are yet, like the waves, soon to
change, and pass away. . . .
Love to all. W. M. Lowrie.
56 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Ogdetisburgh, July 23d, 1841.
My Dear Father —
I arrived in this place about, a week ago, and though Mr. Savage
was absent, Mrs. Savage, and the members of the congregation,
received me very cordially. Mr. Savage returned a day or two
since, and seems to be very glad that I have come.
There are a good many churches in Canada in correspondence
with our church, not one of which, as far as I can learn, is doing
anything for foreign missions. It might not be considered proper
for us to do an)' thing among tliem at present, when so many of
our own churches need to be roused up ; and yet it would be for
their own good, if they could be induced to take some action on
the subject. Most of them are small and weak, and at present a
good deal of prejudice against ministers from the United States is
said to prevail among them. If it be not expedient for our Board
to do anything among them, would it not be at least worth while
for the General Assembly, in their next letter, to suggest to them
the importance of attention to our Lord's last commands? I hope
to see one or two of their ministers, before leaving this part of the
country, and learn some farther particulars respecting them. A
few of them contribute to the American Tract, and I think also
to the American Bible Societies. Much love to all.
I remain, your affectionate son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Ogdensburgh, July 31st, 1841.
My Dear Father —
I have iust received yours of July 28th, and as it was the first
news I had from home, it was a. very agreeable visitor. I have
made appointments to preach to-morrow at Morristown, and at
the second church of Oswegatchie, and the Sabbath following at
Evans' Mills, so that I shall not be able to leave for home until the
9th or 10th of August. I hope, however, to be home about this
day two weeks. Thus far my visit has been very pleasant, and
profitable to myself at least, if not to others. The people have
everywhere received me cordially, and seemed quite gratified at
my coming.
In regard to the object for which Mr. Orr wishes to see me, I
suppose I know what it is, and am half inclined to think that it
can be settled as well in my absence as otherwise. My mind was
turned very strongly to Africa three years since, and the consid-
erations that induced me to wish to go there were — that very few
are willing to labor in that field, and that my talents seem to fit
me peculiarly for such a people as the Africans are. I like to deal
with an ignorant and yet affectionate people, who are not self-
conceited. My acquirements, preparations, &-c., seem to qualify
me for that field. Another consideration that weighs a good deal
LETTERS. 57
with me is, that every one expects that I shall g"o to Africa. It is
not vanity that induces me to believe, that both Canfield and
Alward will be greatly disappointed should I go to any other field ;
and I fear that many of those vvlio know what my intention has
been, will attribute any change in my destination to fear of the
climate. For myself, I should not care about any such suspicions ;
but the effect on others may be unpleasant, as it may induce some
who have thought of going to Africa to hesitate.
There is still another consideration of a personal nature. The
mission to Africa is considered rather a dangerous experiment, and
if I should now decide to go elsewhere, would it not give some
captious spirits the opportunity of saying, that the Corresponding
Secretary was willing to let others go there, but not to let his own
son expose himself? These considerations make me unwilling,
with my present views, to take on myself the responsibility of de-
termining to go to any other country. If the Executive Commit-
tee, however, think my services are more needed in China than
in Africa, and that, all things considered, I will be more useful in
the former place ; then I have nothing further to say, but will
cheerfully submit to their decision ; and shall hold myself in
readiness to go this fall, if necessary. I shall, in that case, wish
to have it stated in the Chronicle, that " my preference was for
Western Africa, but the wants of the China mission being such as
to induce the Executive Committee to change my destination, I
consented," &c. Such a statement, I think, would not be im-
proper, while it would shield me from the charge of " lightness,"
or wisliing to avoid an exposed station.
This letter you may consider either as addressed to yourself per-
sonally, or to the Executive Committee. Mr. Orr's statements
may perhaps induce me to take some other course than the one
above mentioned, but at present, I do not see that I can do other-
wise.
Monday, August 2d. I preached yesterday morning at Morris-
town, and in the afternoon at Mr. Rodgers'. The people seemed
much interested in both places. I expect to be at Mr. Savage's
Monthly Concert this evening, and to start on Wednesday or Thurs-
day for Evans' Mills. I hope to be at home by Wednesday or
Thursday of next week. Mr. Savage desires his kind regard to
you. Much love to all at home.
I remain, your affectionate son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Steamboat )St. Lawrence, Lake Ontario, July 13th.
Dear Mother —
When riding in the wild woods of Michigan, I found so many
ideas coming up, that I concluded to write you a good long letter.
I have it all to write yet, and the steamboat shakes so, that I
write like Mr. Hopkins in the Declaration of Independence.
58 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
From Detroit by railroad to Ann Arbor, it is a dreary country
part of the way, heavy timber and thick underbrush, and any
quantity of marshes. I took the opposition stage to Jacksonville.
The driver was a harum-scarem creature, full of opposition, drink-
ing and swearing constantly. I reached Marshall on Saturday
morning, and was most kindly received by Mr. and Mrs. Wells. On
Sabbath I preached twice to the Congregational church in Marshall,
which is at present without a pastor. Having hired a horse, I left
on Tuesday morning. The first part of my ride to Belone, four-
teen miles, was pleasant enough. I passed a great many little
lakes, and crossed a great many marshes, on log bridges. These
are formed by laying together round logs from three to twelve
inches diameter. People may laugh at these bridges, but after
they have been swamped as I was, they will think better of them.
In the afternoon the road became worse, and the country was very
heavily timbered, and in one place for six miles I saw neither a
house nor a clearing. I reached Vermontville before sunset.
This village contains about two hundred persons, mostly from
Vermont. It is perhaps the most religious place in the Union.
Every family but one has family prayers.
Next day I was off early ; twenty miles were passed without
finding an inhabitant. At first the trees had been cut down tow-
ards making the road, but were not removed, and the path
wound off into the woods to avoid them. I tried to follow it, but
soon my horse began to sink in the soft ground, and then jumped
and floundered about, sinking deeper at every step. I jumped ofT,
and found I had lost the path. After exploring a little, and lead-
ing my horse, I found the path again. I soon came to a place
grown over with a broad-leaved weed, and lost the path again.
Pretty soon the ground became soft and wet, with large trees lying
in every direction. I jumped off again to make a further explora-
tion. But the further I went the more impassable it was, and, in
utter despair of finding any path there, I turned back.
What was I to do ? I had come six miles without seeing a
human being, and had fourteen miles to go before I would come
to a house. I was in the middle of a large swamp, and no path.
It was very warm, and no air was stirring through that mighty
forest. Its loneliness seemed to have frightened away the very
birds, for I saw none, nor heard any, except the rough, unpleasant
notes of the blue jay. I went back half a mile, and found the
path had turned to the right to avoid the swamp. Four miles
further I met a man with his rifle. I kept on, mile after mile,
and again and again losing the path, as it turned off to avoid the
swamps. Occasionally I saw the tracks of some one that had
passed the same way, and these were almost the only evidence I
had that I was in the right way, for road there was none, not even
was the underbrush cut away.
While carefully looking for these foot-prints, and rejoicing when
I saw them, I was reminded of the saying of one of the old English
LETTERS. 59
divines — " Let no Christian, however clear his hopes, despise the
least sign of grace ; the time may come when he would give
worlds for the least evidence that he is a child of God, and in the
road to heaven." Other thoughts of the same kind passed through
my mind. Sometimes when the road wound between two swamps,
I thought of Christian in the valley of the shadow of death. Then
again, when I was carefully looking to find the path, I thought how
anxiously should the Christian seek to be in the path of duty, — -if
he varies from it he may be lost irrevocably ; he may sink in the
raire, be lost among the thorns and briers, or wander in the wilder-
ness.— I came at last to a small cabin eight miles from Ionia, and
reached that place before the sun went down, fully determined
that I would return some other way.
I found next day, at the land office, that my journey had been
for nothing. The land on which the Chippewa Mission is placed
had been advertised by the government, but the sale had been in-
definitely postponed. I left Ionia July 1st, and took the road on
the north side of Grand river. The country was slightly undulat-
ing ; no underbrush ; the trees high, and far apart. I crossed
Grand and Flat rivers, both beautiful streams, and came at night
to the Widow Kent's, thirty-two miles. Next day the road lay
through a beautiful country, though thinly inhabited, and with a
profusion of flowers, some of which were very beautiful. I saw
whole fields quite blue with the " four-o'clocks," which R ■
watches so carefully in your little garden. Then there were wild
roses, red liUes, sweet-williams, yellow marigolds, wild peas, and
many others, red, blue, and white, which I had never seen before.
Some were very beautiful, especially the mocassin flower. It is a
large lady's slipper ; the flower is red and white, and has a very
fine appearance. All this was in the wilderness.
" Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air."
But are they unseen 7 Is their sweetness wasted 7 Would this
be consistent with wisdom in that glorious Being who makes nothing
in vain ? Yet of what use are they 1 Well, they are the houses of
a great many insects. It is said that several different kinds live
in every plant. Then, their seeds are food for the little birds.
Who can tell us, too, what effect their perfumes have upon the
winds that sweep over these solitudes, and visit, in all their fresh-
ness and healthful influences, the abodes of men ? Then, how
do we know but that these wild woods are the school-houses of
other beings, who come down and learn lessons from the flowers
as they spring up in their beauty, and open towards the pure light
of heaven ? It is a very contracted view of things to suppose that
the productions of the earth are intended only for man, and are
lost if he does not use them. But there is another thought of far
more weight — these flowers are grateful to God himself; he "de-
lights in the work of his hands," What skill, and wisdom, and
60 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
goodness, are displayed in these little flowers ! He " clothes the
lilies of the field." Surely, if God delights in these works of his
hands, they were not made in vain — their beauty is not unseen —
their sweetness is not wasted.
On — on I went — saw some Indians, some of them in tents. In
some places the plough was at its work, and I saw four, and at ano-
ther time, seven yoke of oxen to a single plough. I thought of
Elisha, the son of Shaphat, ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen,
and he with the twelfth. What was he doing with so many ?
Was he breaking up new land in Palestine ? Or had he twelve
ploughs? I reached Marshall at noon, July 3d, and next day at-
tended their Sabbath School celebration.
The following Sabbath I spent in Buffalo, and on Monday I
started off for the Falls of Niagara, determined that this time I
would see both sides. I spent several hours on the Canada side,
and got my face wet with the spray on Table Rock, but did not
feel inclined to go under the Horse-Shoe fall. I soon began to
drink in the spirit of the place, and to feel my soul expanding
with the emotions it was so well fitted to produce. I will not in-
flict a description on you for several very good reasons. I spent
the night and the next day till 2 o'clock p. m., on the American
side. Every step about the falls was as familiar as if I had tra-
versed them but yesterday, and yet it was seven years since our
hasty visit to the place. The little bridge on the Terrapin rocks,
where we all sat down, and looked over into the boiling abyss, is
broken down. You will recollect how we all admired that mag-
nificent scene. I felt melancholy almost all the time. Where
were those with whom I had formerly walked over these scenes ?
Two of them were already in their graves. I saw many others
there, like our party was seven years ago — husbands and their
wives, — ^parents and their children, — brothers and their sisters.
As we did then, they seemed to enjoy their visit the more from
the society of each other. But I was now alone, — I knew no one,
and scarcel}^ spoke to any one. " A stranger and a pilgrim," my
thoughts turned to our everlasting home. Here I was surrounded
with the evidences of the power and glory of God. The dashing,
roaring waters ; the foam and the silver bubbles that floated on
the waves ; the bright rainbow that played in quietness over the
scene ; the old trees on the island ; and the little flowers that grew
out of the fissures of the everlasting rocks — each seemed to have
a tongue to speak the praises of the great Creator. My heart was
full ; and as I felt almost overpowered by the solemnly joyful
feelings of my soul, I could not but ask — will there be such scenes
as these in heaven ? The only answer I could give was, if not,
there will be that which will produce the same emotions that these
do, in a more enrapturing degree. We can know the character
of God only in his word and in his works, for himself we cannot
see. Here we learn his power, wisdom, and goodness, by such
sights as these. In heaven we shall know far more of these same
LETTERS. 61
attributes. What the works which shall declare those attributes
shall be, we may not presume to say. But if they are not sucb as
we see on earth, they will be so much more glorious that we shall
not wish again to see these mighty displays of his power.
From the falls I went to Ogdensburgh, and was most kindly
received by the Rev. Mr. Savage and his lady. I remained in
this neighborhood from the 20th of July till the 3d of August,
and preached in a number of the churches. Some of our meet-
ings were seasons of deep interest, and I formed acquaintances
which I will remember while I live. With Mr. and Mrs. Savage
and their children, I could not but feel at home. I saw a good
deal of that dear patriarch, the Rev. Mr. Rogers, and preached for
him several times. I enio3^ed our intercourse very much, and I
trust profited by the privilege of being with him. And when
speaking of the Saviour he said : " Whenever the Bible speaks of
Christ by way of metaphor, it is always with some term expres-
sive of divine excellencies. If he is called a tree, then it is the
tree of life. If he is called a vine, then it is the true vine. If he
is called a shepherd, then it is the good shepherd. If he is called
a plant, then it is the plant of renown." The remarks may not
be new to you, but they were to me, and they brought to my mind
the idea, that the flowers of the Bible, are like the floweri%of the
field, the more closely they are examined, the more beautiful do
they appear.
The river St. Lawrence is the noblest river I have ever seen.
Opposite Ogdensburgh it is about a mile and a quarter wide. I
had a good view of it from the window of my bedroom. It flows on
in its majestic calmness ; the waters are beautifully clear, and very
deep. The opposite bank looks well in the distance, much better
indeed than when you are close to it.
July 31st. A letter from home ; all well. Mr. Orr has returned
from China, and wishes to see me. I suppose Ije wishes me to go
to China. Well, I am ready if it be necessary, but I would rather
go to Africa. However, here am I, and God is everywhere, and I
will go wherever he sends me.
August 2d. My time in this pleasant neighborhood is nearly up,
and in two days I set off for home. Yet why do I talk of home 7
"Strangers and pilgrims" — such we all are, and who more than I?
I don't know whether this lonely feeling that so often comes over me
be the cause of it, but I love to walk in graveyards, and read the
names on the tombstones. The influence of such places seems to
come over my soul with a quietness and calmness that is really
plea.^nt. When I w^as in Rochester I visited Mount Hope ceme-
tery— a beautiful place. The inscription on a grave of a mother
and her daughter, struck me as very beautiful :
"The night dew that falls, though in silence it weeps,
Shall brighten with verdure the grave where they sleep;
And the tears that we shed, though in secret they roll,
Shall long keep their memory fresh in the soul."
62 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
While in Ogdensburgh I spent an hour among the tombs. Sev-
eral of the inscriptions attracted my attention ; some for their
spelling, others for their quaintness, a few for their beauty. Here
are some of them :
ON AN INFANT'S GRAVE.
" Ere sin could blight or sorrow fade,
Death comes with friendly care ;
The op'ning bud to heaven conveyed,
And bade it blossom there."
The two following, also on the graves of infants :
" Sleep on, dear child,
From sorrow free,
Ere long thy friends
Will sleep with thee."
" Thus on the rose
The worm corroding lies.
And ere it to perfection grows,
It withers, fades, and dies."
There is nothing remarkable in the two following, yet they are
pleasaat :
" Lo where this silent marble weeps,
A friend, a wife, a mother sleeps ;
A heart within whose sacred cell,
The peaceful virtues loved to dwell."
" Death to thee is bliss eternal,
Our loss is thy eternal gain.
Thou dwell'st where spring is ever vernal,
And life asserts its right to reign."
I was most struck with the stone over the grave of Mary Eliza-
beth, Mr. Savage's eldest daughter. It contained simply her
name, age — a little over five years, date of her death, and under-
neath,
" Thefloiverfadeth."
August 3d. My work here seems to be now done ; I start to-
morrow for Evans' Mills, and thence for New York, and then —
where ?
Denmark, N. Y., August 9th. Now for the last paragraph of my
letter, or journal, or whatever you choose to call it. I preached
yesterday three times for Mr. Eastman, at Evans' Mills, and was
pretty well tired. These ministers have no mercy on a wayfaring
brother when he comes along. I left early, and arrived here at
eight P.M. I have now before me sixty-one miles by stage, ninety-
six by railroad, and one hundred and forty-five by steamboat ;
three hundred and two miles, to be passed over in thirty-six hours.
However, rest after labor is sweet. If we were all as eagerly anti-
LETTERS.
63
cipating- the rest of heaven, as I am the close of my present jour-
ney, it would be well.
" This life is but a fleeting show,
There 's nothing true but heaven."
I hardly know whether to say " Good-by," or " How are you ?"
I am at the end of my letter, and therefore the former seems most
proper ; but when you receive it, I will be at the end of my jour-
ney, and then the last will suit best. However, in either case,
I am
Most affectionately yours,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Pittsburg, Pa., September 24th, 1841.
My Dear Mother —
Since leaving New York on this, most probably my last visit to
this side of the mountains, I have been so constantly on the move,
I have not been able to write to you. Indeed there has but little
occurred that is worth notice. I came by way of Washington and
Canonsburg, spending a Sabbath at Miller's Run, my old parish when
I was a student in college. It was a time of deep feeling both to
them and to myself, especially when I told them I never expected
to meet them again in this world. I preached on Monday in Can-
onsburg, and on Tuesday came to Pittsburg. After two days with
our friends there, I set off for Butler and Venango counties. I
spent the Sabbath in Butler, and preached once for Mr. Young.
I need not go over my visits to our friends at Slippery Rock,
Scrubgrass, and Big Sandy. Very pleasant and very painful they
were. O how affectionate and kind my dear aunts were ; and
painful as was our parting, it was brightened with the blessed hope
of meeting again in peace, when time shall be no more.
I returned to Butler on Saturday, and preached for Mr. Young
on the Sabbath. In the morning, on " I am a stranger in the
earth ;" and the afternoon on missions. In the evening, a very
large number came to the Monthly Concert meeting, and Mr.
Young and myself both talked some. Much feeling was mani-
fested, and many tears shed. My text in the morning seemed to
my own feelings to be appropriate, even in this the place of my
birth. I left the place so young, and have been so long absent,
that my earliest playmates are strangers to me. I walk through
its streets, and feel myself almost alone. I meet but few I know,
and the houses of old friends are filled with strange faces. The
school-house looks unnatural, from the changes in the neighboring
buildings, and the thickets and the forests where I played have
been cleared away. Even the church, with which some of my
earliest recollections are associated, has been removed, and another
stands near its former site. In the graveyard alone, I felt at home.
Here my deepest affections clustered over the grave of my own
64 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
sainted mother ; the letters on her tombstone are not more faith-
ful to their trust, than is my memory to her pure and lovely vir-
tues. There, too, were many whom I knew slightly, or of whom
I have learned much from others. How sweet the thought that
many of God's children are sleeping here, and their dust is pre-
cious to that Saviour who never sleeps, and who has the keys of
death in his hand.
Next day I came to Pittsburg, and after staying a few days with
my sister, I will set out for home. . . .
Affectionately yours, W. M. Lowrie.
Princeton, September 3d, 1841.
THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST WITH HIS PEOPLE.
( Written in a hook of Extracts, for Wm. H. Hornblower.)
That Christ Jesus is constantly with his people, is a fact de-
clared with surprising frequency both in the Old and New Testa-
ments. It was He who appeared to Isaac, and said, " Sojourn in
this land, and I will be with thee, and bless thee :" Gen. xxvi. 3.
It was He who appeared to Jacob, as he lay upon the cold ground,
and said, "I am with thee in all places ; I will not leave thee:'
Gen. xxviii. 15. It was He who appeared to Moses in the burning
bush, and sending him to the court of Pharaoh, said, " Certainly
I will be with thee :" Ex. iii. 12. And when David, in the sweet-
est strains of poetry and piety, sang, "The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want ; yea, though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me," there
is no doubt but it was the presence of the Saviour which he so
gratefully acknowledges.
For a time Christ was with his disciples in the flesh, and they
saw his glory : but it was "expedient" that he should depart. And
yet he is with his people still. By his Spirit, by his providence, by
his own personal and abiding presence, he is with them still, and
will ever be with them. Almost the first thing recorded of him by
Matthew is, that his name is " Emmanuel, God with us." His
own last words on earth to his disciples were, " Lo, I am with you
always." And this is not all. His prayer to the Father is,
"Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me, be with
me where I am, that they may behold my glory."
That this Saviour may be ever with you, my dear brother, en-
hghtening you, sanctifying 3rou, sustaining you in sorrow, tempta-
tion and trials, making you useful in life and happy in death, and
glorifying you with himself forever, — is the earnest prayer of the
writer of these few lines.
We have lived and labored together pleasantly and profitably,
I trust, for a few short years. We must soon separate, i)ut we
shall meet again. Till then, pray for me. W. M. Lowrie.
LETTERS. 65
Neio York, November 30th, 1841.
Mr. John O. Proctor —
Dear Brother : — You will probably begin before now to sup-
pose, that amid the many cares and labors preparatory to a final
farewell to home and country, I have forg-otten you ; but I have
not. I often think with great pleasure of the few days spent in
Carlisle a year ago. How soon our pleasures vanish ! yet when
they are rational, and especiall}'^ when they are Christian, they
leave a savor behind them that survives their freshness, like the
rose, which, though withered, still yields its fragrant perfumes.
My ordination took place Tuesday, November 9th, and the
farewell meeting was held last Sabbath night in Dr. Spring's
church. Addresses were made by Dr. Spring, my father, and
myself. I feel at present very cheerful, and think I have seldom
passed my time so pleasantly as within the last two months ; yet
it is not insensibility, nor want of affection to home and friends,
that makes me so cheerful ; for tears will flow at times at the
thouglit of going far otT, no more to return. Who knows what a
day may bring forth ? I am going out into the wide world, ex-
pecting to be gone for life ; yet I know not but that a very few
years may see me again at home. However, that is not probable;
and now I do not desire it. It is a responsible step I am taking,
and I never felt more in need of sustaining grace, and of the pray-
ers of my friends to secure that grace for me.
Dec. 9th. The time of sailing is still uncertain. However, s«ch
a disappointment is not very grievous, for it gives the opportunity
of being more at home ; yet / should not talk of home, for there
will soon be no such place in the wide world for me ; and, indeed,
for many years, I have spent but little of my time at home. Long
a wanderer, I am a stranger in the place of my birth, where I
spent my boyish days. When I was out there this fall, I felt
alone as I walked through the streets, for a generation had grown
up that knew me not, and almost all my old playmates were
gone : some were dead ; others married and settled in life ; others
moved far away; and, save here and there a gray-haired patriarch
or a mother in Israel, I knew very few. I went into the church
where my grandfather preached, and my parents had worshipped,
and felt that I was almost alone ; and I preached on the text, " I
am a stranger in the earth," for no other passage of Scripture
seemed to suit my own feelings so well. Now "' the world is all
before me, where to choose my place of rest, and Providence my
guide ;" though the poet was wrong there, for men can no more
find a place of rest in this fleeting world, than the dove could find
rest for the sole of her foot, when the waters of the deluge rolled
round the earth. Like her we must fly, and that towards heaven,
if we would avoid being buried in the waves of worldliness and
spiritual death. Blessed be God, there ' is for us, also, an ark,
where the weary may resort for shelter and defence, when the
5
66 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
storm is abroad ; and when the heavens and the earth shall have
passed away, we may still repose with unshaken confidence on
him who now walks on the waves that threaten to engulph us,
and who then shall be our everlasting portion ? I did not intend
to have talked so much about myself, but at present nothing else
occurred to me that I thought would interest you. 1 shall hope
to hear from you very soon after I get to Singapore. Pray for
me.
Your brother in Christ,
W. M. LOWRIE.
New York, December 29th, 1841.
Mr. John Lloyd —
Dear Brother : — 1 expected long ere this to have been on my
way, but I am yet detained, and having a spare hour this after-
noon, I can spend it very pleasantly in having a talk with you ;
though unfortunatelv, the talking must be all on one side. The
Huntress, which was to have gone a month ago, will hardly get
off' in less than two weeks from the present time. I am now all
ready, or couki be ready at a few hours' notice ; and as my mind
has beconie famiharized to the idea of departure, I begin to wish
that It were oter. As to my " feelings" in the prospect of departure,
which you are so anxious to know, they are really so commonplace
that they are scarcely worth the writing. I could hardly help be-
in* amused at the way in which you asked me to tell you what
ni}^ feelings were at present ; you seemed to attribute so much im-
portance to them. I did not say much about my feelings, &c., in
my last letters to you, because I had not time, and did not feel
then just in the humor for that kind of writing. To tell the truth,
there are so few persons to whom I care about telling my feehngs,
either orally or by letter, that lately I have got much out of the
habit of saying anything about those deeper feelings that are
known only to God, and my own soul.
Another thing that makes me say less about them is, that I
have learned not to rely upon them so much as once I did ; and
indeed, I so often find it necessary to act without, and even against
feelings, from a sense of duty, that this makes me less careful
about them. They are certainly important ; when we are in a
proper " frame," and our " feelings" are urged on by a favorable
impulse, there is a great deal of pleasure connected with them.
But too much dependence upon them will often unfit us for duty.
A man's feelings may take their color from many things besides
his religious state. He may be melancholy, from a low state of
health, when he thinks it is a sense of sin that makes him sad.
He may be cheerful and feel very grateful, as he supposes, from a
sense of God's favor ; and yet the greater part of his joy shall be
caused by the mere flow of animal spirits. Our feelings arise
very often, indeed, from something in ourselves ; but our standard
LETTERS. 67
of duty is not anything in ourselves, but the eternal word of God.
That is liable to no changes, and does not fluctuate with the ever-
varying tide of human passion, but flows on ever the same. I do
not undervalue the importance of feelings ; they are like the per-
fumes that sweeten the gales which waft us on our course ; and at
times they may even be compared to the gales that assist the gal-
ley-slave, as he toils at his oars. But we are rowing up stream,
and it will not do for us to lie on our oars, every time the breeze
lulls. " Time and tide wait for no man," and we, on the other
hand, in our heavenly course, must toil on without waiting for
time or tide, or wind or wave. " Faint, yet pursuing." As John
Bunyan says of religion among men, so may it be said of religion
in the heart, " We must own religion in his rags, as well as when
in his silver slippers, and stand by him too when bound in irons,
as well as when he walketh the streets, with applause."
But I did not intend to write so long a lecture on the feelings,
nor do I want you to understand that I will not tell you my feelings,
nor be glad to hear yours : — far from it ; for some of the pleasant-
est hours I have ever spent, have been when communing with
you, as we told each other what the Lord had done for our souls.
I do think, however, that you attach more importance to the state
of your feelings, than you ought ; and hence, one reason why your
harp is so often tuned to the notes of woe. I have often been
struck with the remarks of Dr. Doddridge, in his Rise and Pro-
gress, chapter xxii. §2, — "Religion consists chiefly in the resolu-
tion of the will for God," &c. That section is well worthy of
your attention. But I amst stop writing on this subject, or it will
fill up my whole letter, and I have a good deal more to say.
This (December 29th) is the ever-memorable day in my history,
when a " hope of heaven first budded in my heart." Seven years
have rolled away since then. It seemed a long time then, to look
forward seven years ; now, to look back, how short ! I have been
looking backward to-day, and, amidst much that is painful and
humiliating, I find also much that is very pleasant. I think that
the most dehghtful object on which I fix my eyes, during all that
time, is the walk you and I had one early spring morning, over
the hills about Canonsburg. We talked of heaven, and it seemed
as if while we talked heaven was opened, and we could see its
glories. Perhaps you have forgotten the time, but it seems to me
I never shall. Every time I think of it, the scene comes up vividly
before my mind. "I remember thee, oh iiiy God, from the liill
Mizar." Shall we ever en^oy another such hour? I almost fear
at times, that added years have taken from me the power of ap-
preciating so sensibly the pleasures enjoyed in the days of my " first
love." Perhaps it is best they should. At any rate, the instability
of youth is well exchanged for the sobriety of riper years, when
the latter adds to our capacity for glorifying our Father in heaven,
even though it may take away the sense of novelty and delight
once experienced. I have been trying to look forward seven years,
68 MEMOIR OP WALTER M. LOWRIE.
but who knoweth what a day may bring- forth ? I cansee noth-
in^ certainly, yet I can imagine enough to make me tremble.
What should such creatures as we are do, if we had not an Al-
mighty Saviour near?
I feel very much disappointed at not having seen you, and
would ask you to come over new year's day ; but I shall be out
of the city for two or three days about that time. Farewell.
Your brother in Christ,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Nev) York, January 4th, 1842.
Mrs. Ann Porter —
My Dear Aunt : — I have been intending for some time past
to write you a sort of farewell letter before my departure, but have
not till now found a fitting opportunity. It Avas with much sor-
row, that I said good-by to you all, and for a good while afterwards
I fek very miserable, and the tears would start into my eyes. The
next week I spent at Pittsburg, and preached on Sabbath in Mr.
Dunlap's church. On Tuesday 1 left Pittsburg and said good-by
to all my friends.
I suppose we all feel more easy about my going, from having
had so much time to look so nearly at it. It has seemed now for
a month past, as if I were going off in a week or two, and thus
we have got used to the idea. However, it will perhaps be hard
enough yet when the time comes. But so many mercies have
crowded all my past life and fill my present prospects, that I some-
times tremble at the load of obligation that is laid upon me. It is
very strange how unthankful we are for our blessings. . . .
I often think of you all, and would like to know how you are,
but am afraid it is too late now to get an answer to this before I
sail. But will not some of you write to me once in a while ? You
know what is said in Proverbs, chap. xxv. 25. I trust you do not
forget to pray for the missionaries, and for me. But I must say
farewell — and may the blessing of God rest upon you, my dear
aunt, and all yours.
Your affectionate nephew,
W. M. LOWRIE.
New York, January 11th, 1842.
Rev. Thomas W. Kerr —
My Dear Cousin : — I expected to have been on the other side
of the equator before now, but as yet I am at home, the ship hav-
ing been detained by one thing or another for five weeks. Friends
have all been very kind to me, and I have sometimes begun to
think myself " some great one," from the attention I receive in
many places. This is one of the evils and trials of a missionary
life. The Church has not yet arrived at that state in which she
LETTERS. 69
ought to be in regard to missionary operations. She yet looks
upon them ahnost as works of supererogation, and consequently
regards with too much favor, in some respects, those wlio go as
missionaries. I say in some respects, because, strange as if. may
seem, some of the very persons wlio almost canonize a missionary
when he is among them, and speak of his going abroad in the
most exalted terms, are among the very iirst to forget him when
he is gone, and the most careless in praying for him. even though
they resolve and promise not to forget to " make mention of him
in their prayers."
I am becoming more and more of the opinion, that it is in vain
to expect the present generation of Christians to do their duty in
the work of missions. I do not say this in a spirit of censoriousness,
because I am aware of the many reasons they bring to justify
themselves ; but from a growing conviction, that unless the sub-
ject of missions is early impressed on the minds of children, and
unless habits of self-denial and liberality for and to the heathen
are encouraged in them, it is in vain to expect that they will, when
they grow up, perform in any tolerable degree the duties to the
heathen that may be expected of them. It is not ordinarily to be
expected that those who grow up with the money-getting, and
money-loving, and money-saving propensities of most men, should
be prompted or induced by the ordinary motives to give freely of
their worldly goods for the benefit of those, of whose condition they
know almost nothing. I have often wondered, when I have heard
an eloquent missionary sermon, or have myself presented as strongly
as I knew how, the motives, that with me are all-powerful and
which constrain me to sacrifice so much, and yet have found that
men and even Christians, gave only the coppers to the heatlien,
and kept the gold and the jewels to themselves. They said, "Be
ye warmed, be ye fed," and yet actually they gave nothing what-
ever to further the accomplishment of their good words. Hence it
seems to me, if I were pastor of a church, I would at once, or at
least as soon as I dared, commence in my Sabbath Sciiool. If
the superintendent and teachers could not, or would not, I would
myself as often as possible, say once a month, give the children
some ideas on the state of the heathen, their superstitions, spiritual
condition and prospects, the way and history of the means used to
benefit them, &c., and by degrees, yet as speedily as prudence
would allow, I would endeavor to get them in the habit of saving
their pennies, and giving them at stated times, to the Missionary
Society. I would try to keep up a constant interest in the sub-
ject among them, and this I am persuaded could be done just as
easily as an interest can be kept up in religion generally ; though
it must be admitted, that to keep up sucli an interest would require
constant attention and labor on the part of the pastor. But the
result would repay the labor. As the children grew up I would
endeavor to follow them, make them not only recipients, but
communicants, of a missionary spirit. Such is an outline of my
70 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
plan ; what do you think of it ? If you approve it, suppose you
adopt it, and after a year or two of trial, and making such altera-
tions as experience may suggest, suppose you try to get your
fellow presbyters to engage in the same kind of work. Suppose
that in addition to the great work of preaching the gospel, you
make this the second object of your attention, and pursue it steadily,
until you are sure either of success, or of its failure. I make this
proposal seriously, because I am sure that if you should diligently
follow it out, you could do wonders. Nay, I hope you will not
take it amiss, if I leave it as my last request to you, and as, if you
will allow me to say so, a solemn charge to you, not to pass it
over without careful and prayerful consideration. I did not intend,
when I commenced this letter, to have said a word on this subject,
but it opened up before me so strongly and vividly, that I could
not but present it to you. I will be glad to make this a subject
of special correspondence with you, and if you should undertake
it, I will try to write you a letter once a year, additional, that
you could use in some way in your remarks to the children. It is
a subject that I have long thought very important, and now I am
more than ever convinced of its importance. Write to me particu-
larly on it, and 1 will say more than I can in this short and hur-
ried communication. Farewell, and the blessing of God be with
you both.
Yours affectionately,
W. M. LOWRIE.
New York, January 18th, 1842.
Mr. John M. Lowrie —
Dear Cousin : — After long delay, the Huntress is to sail to-
morrow. We are all well here, and I beheve all in good spirits.
Very seldom have I found my own mind so perfectly calm and
peaceful, as it has been since last Friday. The Sabbath was to
me one of my bright days, or rather, as I very seldom have bright,
dazzling days, it was one of those calm, peaceful days, when the
soul rises insensibly above the world, and dwells with the assur-
ance of faith on unseen realities. Unexpectedly to me, but very
gratefully, it was communion Sabbath in Mr. Smith's church, the
church of which I have been a member here. He preached an
excellent sermon in the morning on " As oft as ye eat this bread,"
&c. After communion, I made a few remarks, and the exercises
were closed with prayer by my brother John. It was good to be
there, and one of the elders remarked to me afterwards, " Truly
we have had a feast, and a good day."
Yours in haste, with true affection,
W. M. Lowrie.
CHAPTER III.
January 19 to May 27, 1842.
VOYAGE TO CHINA — JOURNAL IN THE HUNTRESS.
Ship Huiitress, Wednesday, Jan. 26th, 1842.
At sea, N, lat. 33° 38', W. long. 54° 04'.
My Dear Mother —
As it is just a week to-day since leaving home, and circumstan-
ces are favorable, I shall commence my promised journal ; though
I have so much to write up from my pencil notes, that the very
idea of it almost appals me : — so much by way of preface.
We got under weigh at half past twelve last Wednesday,
and, with three hearty cheers from the crew, proceeded down the
bay. The novelty and excitement of my situation kept me from
any very unpleasant feelings at parting. I ought to say more
than this, however. The conviction that I was in the path of
duty, and the felt presence and sustaining influence of an all-gra-
cious Saviour, upheld me and carried me safely through a scene
that I had dreaded almost as much as death itself.
As there was little or no wind, the captain and pilot thought it
best to anchor for the night in Prince's Bay — a large and very
beautiful and safe bay, just inside of the Hook, and wait till
morning. Accordingly the steamboat left us at 3^ p. m., and I
felt really glad, when I saw Mr. B. parting from his father and
brother, that I had come alone. The quietness and deliberation
of such partings is killing. Farewell speeches read very well, but
when Qne is swallowing his feelings and choking almost with emo-
tion, and doing his utmost to retain his calmness and composure,
the sooner in such circumstances the better, a silent shake of the
hand and away is enough for me. It is bad enough to think of
it now.
After reading my Bible with more than ordinary interest, I went
to bed at ten p. m., as quietly and calmly as if I had been at home,
and dreamed of you all before morning.
Thursday, January 20th. I was wakened early by hearing the
men at work on diflferent parts of the rigging, weighing anchor, &c.
I dressed and went out on deck before sunrise. I found Mr. K.
there, and the captain soon came out. There was as yet no wind.
72 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
but the pilot, who was " wide awake," thought a breeze would
spring up about sunrise, and they were preparing sail, to catch the
first breath. We did not get fairly started, however, until after
nine- a. m., when a light breeze filled the higher sails, (topsails and
top-gallants,) and we slowly moved away. Several other vessels,
outward bound, had anchored near us, and they followed close in
our wake. We soon got outside of the Hook, and when fairly
under weigh, the pilot left us, at a quarter before twelve. I had
hastily written a few hues to you and father, which I sent back
by him. He sprang lightly over tbe side of the vessel into a row-
boat tbat was waiting for him, and the last link was broken ! We
kept on in somewhat of a south-east direction, and soon the only
object that coidd be seen, was the Highlands, south of the en-
trance of the channel to New" York. 1 could hardly realize my
situation.
I soon found Mr. B. standing at the stern, looking rather pale.
I could not help laughing, though I pitied him, and wrapping my-
self in my cloak, as there was a fresh breeze, I sat down on
a stool in the stern of the vessel. The motion soon began to
affect me, and when I went to dinner, there were none at the
table except the captain and Mr. K. I found I was " too far
gone" to eat anything, and feeling very dizzy, went out into the
open air. Though I felt more and more sick, I could not help
being struck with the extreme ludicrousness of the appearance of
a sea-sick passenger. How the old sailors must laugh among
themselves at the pale faces and wo-begone countenances and
staggering gait of the " men with gloves on !" I was quite sick on
Friday, and till three p. m. on Saturday, when I went out on deck,
and staid about two hours. We were then about the middle of
the Gulf Stream, and the air was quite mild and pleasant. Ther-
mometer, about 63°. I saw a shoal of fish playing in the water.
Mr. K. said they were porpoises, but I could not see their shape.
I felt a great deal better ; went to table and ate a light supper,
and immediately after turned in for the night and slept pretty
well. Dreamed about home, and my trip to Ogdensburgh, and
fifty other things.
There ! I have got safely to the end of last week, and I'll now
turn in for this night. It is now past four bells, i. e., past ten jo'clock,
P.M., with us, while my watch, which I have not altered since
leaving home, says it is a little past nine with you. I suppose
you are now at family worship. Am I right in thinking, that the
absent one is remembered at this hour? But I need not ask the
question, for I know it. Good night.
Sabbath morning, .January 23d. Rose and went out about six
o'clock. New York time, but here it was past sunrise. The air
was very mild and pleasant, and I found little use for my cloak.
Temperature of the water, 71° ; air, about 63°. • Was out on deck
most of the morning, when it was cool and pleasant. The sky
was covered with clouds almost all day. I thought of trying to
JOURNAL AT SEA. 73
preach in the afternoon, but felt ahnost too weak. The captain,
too, was quite unwell ; and as he and I had concluded nothing
definite when we spoke of the subject before, I did not like to make
any move, without consulting hijn further. Could not read much ;
it made me light-headed to read more than two or three pages.
In the evening the captain was quite in a talking mood. He had
been for a short time in the Liverpool trade. He spoke of the
sufferings of steerage passengers from Europe to America, from
want of provisions when the voyage is prolonged, sea-sickness, (fcc.
Only think of the misery of 100, or 150, or 200 persons, in the
steerage in bad weather, when sea-sick — men, women, and chil-
dren, with their provisions and chests, &c., in one mass of con-
fusion. It made my heart ache to think of it ; for if I, in a slight
attack, and with comparatively splendid accommodations, had
suffered so much, how much more must they suffer? And then
to think of the slaves in a slave-ship, when sea-sick ; " Man can-
not utter it." The captain had once crossed from Liverpool with
150 steerage passengers, and he said he never wished to do it
again.
Monday, 24th. Gtuite a gale rose soon after midnight, and took
us all aback. The captain was just getting into a refreshing
sleep, when he heard the sound, and, rushing out on deck, he was
wet through in an instant by the rain and the sea ; and though
he came back soon, yet he was much the worse for the exposure.
I heard the loud and rapid orders of the mate, and the quick tread
of many feet about deck, but, knowing I could be of no use, I kept
my berth. Went out about seven o'clock, though there was so much
motion in the ship, that I was nearly sick, and could hardly dress
myself It was blowing quite a gale, and the ship was driving
on, and rolling hke an egg-shell. Only think of a vessel whose
weight must be several hundred tons, probably 1200, tossing about
like a cork ! What immense power to produce such effects ! And
how great and powerful must He be who holds the winds in his
fists, and the seas in the hollow of his hands ! I stood and gazed
on the dashing and rolling waves, and thought of Him who
"walked on the waters." How sweet to think his name is
" Emmanuel, God with us."
The gale continued all day Monday and Tuesday, and, as may
be supposed, we had a dreary time. Not being perfectly recov
ered from sea-sickness, we all felt it more or less. There was a
constant gale, the wind roaring and groaning through the rigging,
the foam and spray breaking over tiie forecastle, and sometimes
over the after-parts of the vessel. The decks were dripping wet
all the time, and showers of rain falling every half-hour.
During the morning the wind tore our jib to ribbons, and we
were obliged to take in most of the sails, and drive on under close-
reefed topsails, and reefed mainsail. (To " reef a sail" is to take
in about one third of it; to " close-reef" is to take in two-thirds.)
The stock seemed to feel the weather a good deal. Jack said,
74 MEMOIR OF "WALTER M. LOWRIE.
" his family took a great deal of doctoring- to-day." In the cabin,
as Mr. B. said, we only " lived ;" we did nothing-, and could do
nothing. It was hard work to keep our seats, and we had to " eat
over the fence," i.e., had a railing, about three inches high, around
the table, and frame-work across and along, to keep the dishes in
their place. We earned all we ate that day. I could not bear
the air of the room, and having doffed my "long-tailed blue," and
put on father's old over-coat, which was just the thing, I sat out -^
most of the day at the door of the cuddy. Occasionally I got a
taste of the salt water ; but, on the whole, I did as well, and per-
haps better, than any of the rest. I pitied Mr. B. very much ; he
has been for some time in very poor health, and has suffered a
great deal. When asked how he was, he replied, " I have known
many sad days, but this has been the dreariest of them aU." This
was said in a tone of deep feeling, but it only called forth a laugh,
in which, though not unkindly meant, nor unkindly taken, I could
not join.'
I do not know what our crew think of their passengers, but many
sailors think that ladies and clergymen are very unfortunate
people to have on shipboard. We tried to talk some in the even-
ing, but it would not do, and we turned in to hope for better days,
Tuesday, January 25th. Gale still continued, though not so
hard, perhaps, as yesterday ; but still severe, and the motion of
the ship, if possible, more unpleasant. I could eat but little at
breakfast, and after it was over, I leaned my head against the
mizzen-mast, which comes through the table just aft of my seat,
and felt very uncomfortable. The Bible was lying just under my
face, and I opened it almost mechanically. It opened at Job xiv.,
and I read that touching and melancholy passage with a deeper ex-
perience of its truth than almost ever before :
" Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
He Cometh forth hke a flower, and is cut down : he fleeth also
as a shadow, and continueth not.
Man lieth down and riseth not, till the heavens be no more.
They shall not awake, nor be raised out of sleep.
Thou prevailed against him and he passeth, thou changest his
countenance and sendest him away."
We had showers and sunshine all day, wind high but gradually
abating, though not enough to enable us to enjoy much comfort.
You would have laughed could you have looked in at the cuddy
about seven p. m., and yet your pity would have been moved. The
two ladies sat near the door of their brother's room quietly, for sev-
eral hours, not sad, nor yet cheerful. Mr. B. sat half awake and
half asleep, and feeling, as he said the next day, in such a way as
his " lexicon had no words to express." Mr. K. sat for hours by the
table, leaning his head on his hand, and feeling incapable of doing
anything ; making an occasional attempt to enliven us, but gene-
JOURNAL AT SEA. 75
rally giving it over very soon. Myself, unable to sit still any
length of time, and yet equally unable to do anything ; hating to
go into any room, where the air was still closer ; and hating to go
out where everything was damp and cold. The captain was but
pooily, and kept his bed all day ; and the mate had his hands full
oiUside. The " boys" seemed to feel as badly as ourselves, as it
is their first voyage. One of them said he "would give a hun-
dred thousand dollars to be at home again." " Well," said Mrs.
G., when she heard of it, " there's only one thing would tempt me
to make such a voyage."
In the evening the captain came into the room, and Mr. K.
spoke to him, and said something about the pleasures of home ;
" but this is not home, — there is no place like home." " True !"
said Mr. B., in a tone half tragic, half comic, that set us all a
laughing, and seemed to revive us a good deal. Well, that's
enough of the dark side of the picture, and as things took a better
course in the evening and night, we will have some lighter colors.
Wednesday, 26th. A splendid day ! After a few light showers,
it cleared off gloriously ; the sea became smooth, and the sun
shone out pleasantly; and with a pleasant breeze, that soon dried
up the moisture of the decks and rigging, we held on the " even
tenor of our way." We sat in the sun, and all felt decidedly
better. The captain was out, and seeing me reading " Two
Years before the Mast," he said, " That's one of the greatest
books ever written. It is a real masterpiece. There's a great
many men, and officers, and captains, just as they are there de-
scribed, though they don't all like to own it."
A pigeon or gull followed us for several hours to-day, flying with
almost no exertion. It was as large as a duck, though longer,
ash-colored above, and white beneath, with a long bill.
In the evening, the ladies commenced walking on deck, and for
a while we were quite merry. It was a glorious moonlight, and
the rich colors of the sky and sea were very beautiful indeed. I
sat up till past eleven, most of the time at my journal.
Thursday, 27th. Up and out about seven. • A very pleasant day,
but so Httle wind that we make very little progress. A sail has
been on our weather quarter all day, but so far off, that we see
but little of her. We saw one on Monday, but soon lost sight of
her in a shower of rain. Busy reading and writing " Before the
Mast," and my journal. Have had a great appetite yesterday and
to-day.
All seem to be in fine spirits, and to enjoy the pleasant weather
exceedingly. To give you an idea of the matter — the thermometer
to-day was 69°, and I sat in the shade of one of the sails for seve-
ral hours, without either hat or cloak, readins;' ; the ladies were out
witliout tlieir bonnets, and all this on the 27th of January ! In
the evening, we had several very pleasant little conversations.
The captain said that in one of their late voyages, they had a
gheep and a goose that became very intimate and sociable, and
76 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
used to run about the decks together. They took them out to
Canton, and brought them back, refusing to kill them, on account
of their singular union. This called forth the remark, that sailors
had some feelings after all ; and the captain added, that he had
known a whole ship's crew to intercede for the life of a favorite
pig, saying they would rather live all the time on salt beef, than
have it put to death. " If I had anybody to write it down," said
he, "I could tell almost as fine a story as that book does" — ^point-
mg to " Two Years before the Mast."
As we are all pretty well over sea sickness, I took the opportu-
nity of consulting the mate as to religious services, meaning on
the first good occasion to have the matter settled with the captain.
I am more and more pleased with Mr. Gillespie, and could heartily
wish that he were master of a vessel himself. He says when he
" gets to be captain, if that ever happens, he means to have wor-
ship twice a day for all the crew." He told me, that in one of
their voyages, one of the men did not come to preaching once,
alleging that he was sick. He suspected him of merely feigning
sickness, and went to see him, and finding that it was all a sham,
ordered him a pretty stiff dose of castor oil. The man had to
take it, and did not feign sickness any more.
Friday, 28th. Another very fine day. Up and out very soon
after sunrise, meant to have seen the sun get up, but failed. A
pleasant breeze all day, and as many sails spread as could well be
got on the masts and yards. Yesterday and to-day the men have
been employed in setting up the rigging, which was somewhat
loose. It had been set up in New York in cold weather, and
needed overhauling. All in fine spirits, and eating heartily. This
has been what Mrs. G. calls our "pork and bean day." We had
the finest dish of those articles decidedly that ever I tasted, and
other good things, " too tedious to mention," as auctioneers say.
I shall become quite an epicure before the voyage is out, at this
rate.
Took the opportunity of speaking to the captain about religious
services. He was perfectly willing to have service on the Sabbath,
and seemed anxious to know if we could have singing. He said
there was no objection to the passengers having prayers as often
as they chose in the after-cabin ; but when I spoke of having the
men attend once a day, (which the mate recommended,) he an-
swered in such a way, that I considered it prudent not to afford
him the opportunity of giving a direct refusal, at least for the pre-
sent.
A light shower in the afternoon cooled the air a little too much.
Thermometer during the day ranged from 68° to 72° in the shade.
The wind has increased some, and the vessel rolls a good deal.
Saw a sail on our stern to-day, a great way off, which may have
been the same one we saw yesterday.
Finished " Two Years before the Mast," and lent it to the cap-
tain, who wants to read it. Overhauled some of my papers, and
JOURNAL AT SEA. 17
began to lay out Brother Owen's route to India. Read a page of
the Brother Jonathan, gazed at the deep bhie sea for a long time,
listened to the canary bird, and talked with Mr. B., whom I find
a very pleasant companion indeed. Saw a gull flying about and
sporting in the waves. Its flight was
" O'er the mountain wave,
Its home upon the deep."
Yet methinks like the dove that Noah sent out from the ark, or
like the Christian pilgrim in the world, it would here "find no
rest for the sole of its foot."
Reading one of Carlyle's pieces, a review of the life of Jean Paul
Richter. The review was short, but contained several very stri-
king and beautiful thoughts, with some that, tiiough smoothed
over, yet contained the rankest pantheism. "Even in the streets
of Bayreuth. Ricliter was seldom seen without a flower in his
breast." What a trait of character is that ! so simple, open, child-
like. Carlyle's description of Richter's style is exactly ciiaracter-
istic of his own style at present, for I would never have dreanied
that the author of this review, written 1827, had also wiitten the
"French Revolution." "The essence of affectation is that it be
assumed." Richter's " fancy hangs, like the sun, a jewel on every
grass blade, and sows the earth at large with orient pearl." " Unite
the sportfulness of Rabeliiis, and the best sensil)ility of Sterne,
with the earnestness, and even in slight portions, the sublimity of
Milton; and let the mosaic brain of old Burton give forth the
workings of this strange union, with the pen of Jeremy Bentham !"
Such is Richter's humor, <fcc., according to Carlyle. Here's a good
idea, " True humor springs not more from the head than from the
heart. It is not contempt, its essence is love; it issues not in
laughter, but in still smiles which lie far deeper." He speaks of
" the freedom with which Richter bandies to and fro the dogmas
of religion, nay, sometimes, the highest objects of Christian rever-
ence ;" and in the same paragraph adds, " Yet he is^n the high-
est sense of the word religious." Save me from such a religion !
That will do now for a talk for this night, and good-by.
Saturday night, January 29th. How many thoughts of past, of
distant, of high and holy and heavenly things it brings ! It
s[teaks of the Sabbath — of rest. But I am tossed on the wide and
heaving sea ; there is no rest on earth, not till we come to the
heavenly world, where " there is no more sea." Now the ship is
rolling in the waves, everything here is moving. I am a stranger
and a pilgrim in the earth. I look about in vain for some solid,
unmoving foundation, but I see none below the skies. Upwards,
I see the heavenly host, and they appear fixed. I know that the
things of the invisible heavens are firm. That city hath founda-
tions. Its builder and maker is God.
" Heaven is the Christian pilgrim's home,
His rest at every stage."
78 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Our passengers have begun to amuse themselves with talking and
planning about their return home, but I do not join them in this.
Even now, my outward condition is better than His, who " had
not where to lay his head ;" and for His sake, willingly do I " con-
fess that I am a stranger in the earth." Good night ; I am pensive,
but happy. It is now near your time for family worship ; and
though absent in body, in spirit I will join with you. The peace
of God keep you all !
Monday, .January 31st. Yesterday was the Sabbath ; the sun
rose clear and bright, and the day was fine, with sufficient wind
just to keep the sails tolerably full. The men were all free soon
after nine a. m., and soon after ten, we met for preaching in the
forecabin.
I took my station by the door of my room, where I could hold
on to the back of the seat round the table. The two ladies sat on
the bench just before me, and the mate next to them, the captain
on a chair at the corner of the table, Mr. B. and Mr. K. on my
right hand, and the men along the side and end of the room oppo-
site me. They were all present, I believe, except the man at the
helm and the second mate, who had to keep on the lookout. The
room was quite full. The services were commenced by reading
2 Kings v., then followed prayer and singing. I set the tunes my-
self, and was pretty loudly accompanied by several of the crew,
some two or three of whom knew the limes, while others guessed
at them ; on the whole the singing was tolerable, but I hope it
will improve. After singing the hymn, I preached on Luke xvii.
11 — 19 ; Christ's healing the ten lepers. My hearers were very
attentive indeed, especially one of the men, whom I had spoken to
several times, and whose jolly air and hearty singing at the ropes
had attracted my attention. I was, however, a good deal embar-
rassed. My head almost touched the ceiUng. My audience was
almost within arm's length ; some were in fact so ; the room was
small, and not being sufficiently accustomed to the motion of the
vessel, I hacf to hold on all the time to the back of the seat to keep
my balance. Then by having to lead in the singing, there was no
time to compose my thoughts, and I suppose I made but blunder-
ing work of it. After preaching, there was prayer and singmg
again, and the benediction — the whole exercises taking about lifty
minutes. I wanted to have them as short as possible, and not
knowing exactly how much time they would take, this contributed
a little to embarrass me. I assure you, I felt for a while after the
services were over, as though I should like to hide myself from the
sight of everybody. However, I could not but believe, that I had
endeavored to do right ; and though for a while half tempted to
think that such services were of no use, yet on the whole I was
glad that a beginning had been made. We shall probably do
better hereafter. Soon after service, Mr. Gillespie told me that
just before service, he had gone into the forecastle to see if all the
men had come forward. He found one there who was not quite
JOURNAL AT SEA. 79
ready, but said he was coming. " Ah, Mr. Gillespie, it is seven
years since I heard a prayer." It was the same man who ap-
peared so attentive.
Saw a couple of flying fish to-day, and thought at first that they
^^ere httle birds ; one of them flew with an irregular flight more
than forty yards before it touched the water. The sight of them
made me think of a passage in Henry Martyn's diary, where he
says that he thought his own aspirations after holiness and heaven,
were short and low and uncertain, like the flight of the flying fish.
The sight and the thought made me condenm myself.
Had prayers in the cabin at eight p. m., and afterwards a long talk
with Mr. Gillespie about the Wall street and Middle Dutch churches,
and about a voyage Mr. G. made from Liverpool to New York
with 135 steerage passengers, several of whom died on the voyage.
He had almost the whole care of them, and dates his first serious
impressions to what he then witnessed. Then we talked about
the difficulty of maintaining the life of religion on ship-board, and
in places of trial, the danger of worldliness, &c.
Tuesday, Feb. 1st. What did I do to-day ? Let us see. Read
two chapters in History of the Puritans ; five or six pages of
geometry ; the introduction to Hill's Theology ; part of the "Cu-
riosity Shop ;" an article in the Repertory ; laid out our course
thus far on my map — which, having some occasion to show to the
captain, he told me very politely, that I " was an accomplished
hydrographer." I intend to try to get on some regular course
of study soon ; to-morrow, if possible ; because I begin to feel the
monotony of this sea life, and to find the need of system in the
employment of my time.
Wednesday, Feb. 2d. Up and out (my stereotyped formula)
at half after six ; walked about the deck for half an hour, and
then came down and spent an hour in reading the Bible in Eng-
hsh and Hebrew. After breakfast, read Neal's History of the Pu-
ritans pretty steadily for two or three hours, with the exception of
several turns on deck. While I was looking over the side of the
ship, at some sea-weed floating past, the captain came up to me,
and, in answer to my inquiries, told me that they never saw it
much south of 17° north lat. ; and that on their return home, the
first familiar object seen is the north star, and the second the sea-
weed.
Thursday, Feb. 3d. Another clear and beautiful day, but still
unfavorable for our speedy progress. The wind is still too much
from the east, and we move on slowly over the deep blue sea.
I spent some time this morning, leaning over the ship's side, and
looking almost without an object at the ocean. The sea was
quite calm, with a long low swell, that gently rocked the ship, as
a nurse would rock the cradle of a sleeping child. Everything
where I stood was still, and I looked at the sun's rays as they glit-
tered from the little dancing waves. How they sparkled and shone
in one full blaze, where his beams fell directly on them ! while oflf
80 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
on either side, as they became fewer and fewer, but still bright and
sparkling as ever, they looked like little fairies of the deep, putting
their lieads up joyously out of the water, and as suddenly sinking
again beneath "the wave. See that splash in the water ! what is
that ? Oh, it's a gull, plunging down probably for a flying fish ;
now he is off in a long flight, away to the south — will he come
back again ? Again, the blue sea and the sparkling reflected
beams ; the sails flapping idly against the mast. Almost begun
to wish for another gale, and yet so calm and peaceful, it seems
good to be here. How apt we are to be satisfied with this uncer-
tain world when the sun shines, and the soft winds blow ! Yet
storms may come, — they will come, and then we shall say —
" I would not live alway, I ask not to stay
Where storm after storm rises dark o'er the way."
What's that, away off there? A sail. Ha! human beings
there ! Who are they ? Do they see us ? How are they ? Are
they joyful or happy? It was a bark, bound to the southward, —
probably an English vessel, bound to the West Indies. It was,
however, too far off' to exchange any signals, and soon was out of
sight.
My time passes pleasantly away, and as yet, I have felt nothing
like ennui; and very seldom, indeed, has the feehng of loneliness,
that came over me so often last summer, come near me in this
voyage. Perhaps it is because I feel more and more that I am a
stranger in the earth, and am more and more satisfied that it should
be so.
Friday, Feb. 4th. Another glorious day. Up and out before
the sun ; saw him rise. My vocabulary wants words to express
the richness and beauty of the clouds
" Which sat about the East,
And wantoned with his golden locks."
After tea looked over a little school-book in astronomy, with
maps, &c., and concluded to try some of the constellations ; was
quite charmed with my success, for I made out the whole con-
stellation of Orion, and single stars, in four or five others. The
ladies, who were promenading the decks, joined me, and after show-
ing them my newly acquired knowledge, we spoke of him "who
loosed the bands of Orion, and sent forth Mazzaroth in hi^ sea-
son." I became quite enraptured with the study, and promise my-
self a good deal of pleasure in pursuit of it. Do you remember how,
one night, as we were going to church, I pointed out to you the
North Star, and Orion's belt ? I have been looking up so long, that
my neck fairly aches. How little we know of the stars ! They are,
doubtless, at least that is my own firm conviction, inhabited worlds,
— all displaying the power, and wisdom, and goodness of our Cre-
ator. What wonderful and varied displays of his attributes woidd
be seen by one who could visit them all ! I am inclined to believe
JOURNAL AT SEA. 81
— though, of course, it is mere conjecture — that every one of them
is arranged in a different order, inhabited by different kinds of ra-
tional and irrational beings, with different genera and species of
plants and minerals ; aye, and different kinds of things for which
we have neither names nor conceptions. Who shall limit the
works of Him, whose understanding is infinite, and who is wonder-
ful in working.
Monday, Feb. 7th. Yesterday was a very calm, delightful day.
Sufficient breeze to carry us on froiu five to seven miles an hour,
and so steady, that there was very httle motion. Had service
in the morning, at ten o'clock. Preached on Psahn xxxvii. 5;
and being less embarrassed, I got on much more comfortably than
on the preceding Sabbath. The attention was very good mdeed.
After service it was quite pleasant to look to the forward part of
the ship. The forecastle doors were open, and some of the men
were lying in their berths or sitting on their chests, reading. Others
were sitting on the windlass and spars, or standing by the sides of
the ship, reading or talking, all neatly dressed, and apparently all
at their ease, and very comfortable. I think our crew are a very
good-looking set of men mdeed. One of the boys was sitting by
the ship's side, doing nothing. The mate went past him, and as
he passed, pulled out a tract from his pocket, and gave it to him.
Afternoon and evening passed off pleasantly and pretty quietly.
The passengers were talking together in tlie lower cabin, in the
evening, where they had cakes and nuts, &c., and sent for me to
join them, but I excused myself, and retired to my own room. It
was Monthly Concert evening, and I thought of the many Monthly
Concerts I had attended, — of the last one, and of the work before
me. Commenced an essay, or address, or — 1 hardly know what
yet, — but something for Sabbath Schools, which, if it is ever fin-
ished, I'll try to have published, provided I think it worthy of
that honor.
This morning I mustered up courage enough to climb up to the
main-cross-lrees. You may be sure I held tight to the ropes, when
I had got so high. I was surprised to find how small everything
looked on deck. The ship seemed no broader than a common row-
boat, and the njen on deck only like children. Whether I shall
ever get above the cross-trees is more than I know at present; but
it is very doubtful. There are no ladders any higher up, and I
don't like the idea of " shinning" up and down a couple of bare
ropes.
After reading a couple of chapters in Neal, I took my geometry,
and lay down on the transom, in the lower cabin, which is nicely
cushioned, and read over several propositions. I have been star-
gazing this evening. It was rather cloudy, and not a favorable
time ; but I found out Castor and Pollux, and several other stars.
I have already learned the names of twenty-five stars and clus-
ters in ten different constellations, and that in only three evenings'
study. I can point them all out with little or no difficulty. Only
6
82 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
learn the constellation Orion — one of the most magnificent, and
one of the easiest learned in the heavens — and by imaginary
squares, and rectangles, and triangles, you can discover the posi-
tion of any star you wish. The mate has a copy of Burrit's
" Geography of the Heavens and Celestial Atlas," which is a cap-
ital work. One wants nothing more to learn the names of the
principal stars, and many interesting particulars respecting them.
We have a very pleasant breeze now that is carrying us on
nine miles an hour. I was out just now, half-past nine, p. m. ;
clouds covered the sky, through which a few stars diitdy shone ;
the sea on either side was dark, the ship was dashing the waves
in white foam from the bows, and leaving a long line of snow-like
billows behind her.
Tuesday, Feb. 8th. The breeze which we took yesterday eve-
ning proves to be the regular trade wind, which will probably
carry us down to N. Lat. 7° or 6°. We are dashing on now at
ten and a half knots, or miles, to the hour. The captain says
" the log line is not long enough:" "she is making money now
for her owners." I was standing after dark at the stern and at
the bows of the vessel, to watch the foam caused by the ship's mo-
tion. It was really splendid at the bows. Going so rapidly, she
threw the foam and spray in wide sheets as white as snow, eight
or ten feet ahead, and several yards on either side ; and the phos-
phorescence was bursting out in faint glimmerings, and in sparks
and flashes, with a delicac}^ of light, such as I never saw equalled
by any human inventions. How wonderful are the works of the
Lord which we see, when we " go down to the sea in ships, and
do business on the great waters !" How wonderful is that wisdom,
that by the use of such simple things as water and light, can pro-
duce so many beautiful and glorious sights as we see in the clouds,
and the rainbow, in the magnificence of Niagara, and the solemn
grandeur of the ocean. " Oh Lord, the earth is full of thy riches,
— so is this great and wide sea."
Wednesday, Feb. 9th. Trade-winds still strong, and sea pretty
rough. None of us (by us I commonly mean the passengers) slept
very well last night, and none of us feel very well to day. It is
hard to describe one's sensation, being neither sick nor well.
In the morning saw a shoal of porpoises only a few yards from
the ship's side, but too far off" to be reached by a harpoon. They
were playing in the water and appeared to be turning over in a
circle for amusement. We only saw them when in the upper arc
of the circle, when they threw themselves completely out of water.
Saw also several of Mother Carey's chickens, a small dark-colored
bird. The reason why they are seen only in rough weather is,
probably, that they obtain their food from the sea, and find it more
abundantly where the water is rough.
Thursday, Feb. 10th. Many flocks of flying-fish about the ship
to-day. They start up in flocks of from ten to a liundred as the
ship passes along, and remind me very much of the way in which
JOURNAL AT SEA. 83
little birds start up from the bushes and from stubble-fields. One
of them flew aboard last night. I shall probably get some be-
fore the voyage is out, and will send you one or two. The one
that came on board was about seven inches long, black above and
white on the belly ; mouth very much like a sucker's : wings about
four inches long, but being dry when I saw it, they were shrunk
up and I did not see their breadth. The tail has the lower part
much longer than the upper, and when they fly it seems to serve
the part of a rudder through the air. They are commonly only
about seven inches loug, and many that I see are much shorter.
Captain Lovett, however, says that off the cape of Good Hope two
came aboard one of his ships in a storm, that were each fifteen
inches long, and measured twenty-two inches from tip to tip of
the wings, and were seven inches round the body. They are
said to be very fine eating, according to Mr. K., " the sweetest of
all fish." Sometimes they fly on board in such numbers as to
furnish a mess for all hands. Our ship, however, bemg very high
out of water, we are not likely to have that luxury. But we need
not complain, for there is everything here that one wants, and
perhaps more than is good for us. 1 am a great advocate of tem-
perance in food, but I do not like to be tempted with too many
good things. My principles of moderation might likely take wing
and fly away.
We are beginning to feel the monotony of sea life, and the wish
that we might speak a ship is often uttered. Even the sight of a
sail is agreeable, and the flying-fish and Mother Carey's chickens
are eagerly looked after. I make a visit to the main-top every
day, and sometimes higher, and look around, but nothing is to be
seen ; the same vast expanse of waters still meets the eye. It
seems as if, when we came to the place where " the sky and sea
meet," we must certainly see something ; but on, on we go. The
sky above and the dark rolling waves beneath, and ourselves the
only visible objects of interest. Yet I am not lonely, nor would
I go back if it were in my power. I am beginning now to feel the
reality of my situation, and to think of future plans and operations.
For two weeks or more after leaving New York, I could hardly
realize that I was really gone. It seemed like a dream. I saw
the waves and looked round the ship, but still could not feel that
I was really on my way. Now, however, as we approach the line,
I begin to feel that I have passed the Rubicon, or to use a more
scriptural expression, that I have departed from Jerusalem and the
temple, and am going far off to the Gentiles.
" Far away, yp billows, bear me ;
Lovely native land, farewell."
The captain was talking at night of " Two Years before the
Mast ;" and speaking of Harris, the talented sailor, he said, " We
often have such men on board ships. I had one last voyage, who
knew more than any one else in the ship. He had once been
84 MEMOIR OP "WALTER M. LGWRIE.
master of a vessel himself." I asked how it happened, then, that
he became a common sailor again. " Oh, he was one of those
men to whom money does no good, and who don't care about it.
They are better off than their officers, for they do what they are
told, and then turn in to their berths, and feel no responsibility or
care."
Passed tiie latitude of the Cape Verd Isles yesterday and to-day,
but too far off to see them, or any signs of land.
Friday, Feb. 11th. Our trade-wind is slackening very much, and
we shall piobably be in the •' variables" to-morrow. Have not felt
like doing much of anything for two or three days, — not sick, nor
well.
Saturday, Feb. 12th. Trade-wind still continues, and we have
come over a thousand miles in five days — pretty good saihng that.
Calm, pleasant day, and rather warm ; looked very much like
rain for several hours, but it has cleared off beautifully, and we
have promise of another pleasant Sabbath. This afternoon, as 1
was standing by the gangway, I observed another kind offish, the
" skip-jack." There was a large shoal of them, playing about in
the water, and leaping sometimes ten feet, though commonly not
more than three or four. I could not observe the shape or size
very distinctly ; they were perhaps as large as a large shad. Saw
a very large flock of large dark-colored birds, but they were too
far off to be distinctly seen. Star-gazing to-night, and saw a
couple of stars you never see in the United States — Canopus and
Achernee. The north star is fast sinking, and we shall soon lose
sight of it.
Saturday night again ! The past week has fled away swiftly
and pleasantly. Soon the Saturday night of life will come, and
the unending Sabbatli of eternity will dawn.
Sabbath, Feb. ISth. A calm, beautiful, and glorious day. Quite
clear all morning, and light fleecy clouds in the after part of the
day, which tempered the air. Preached at ten, a. m., on 2 Cor. v.
21. Audience very attentive. I still lead in singing, and must
say, it was to-day quite respectable. Sung the last hymn (we
only sing two) to Old Hundred, and almost every one joined in.
Heard a voice I had not heard before singing, and, looking up,
found it was the captain, singing with a good deal of earnestness.
After dinner went up to the main-top, where I could feel myself
alone, and, sitting down, read and sang, and looked out on the
blue sea for an hour. It was good to be there. I was above the
cares and the business of the deck. A light breeze made my sta-
tion pleasant, and I looked out on the calm and gently heaving
sea, where the sun shone down with bright and yet undazzling
rays. I felt as a Christian sometimes feels when all around is
calm, and the Spirit's influences, like gentle breezes, move upon
his soul, and the favor of God, like the sun's glad beams, comforts
his heart. Yet still it was not home ; the rolling sea was still
there, and no one could say how soon the calm might become a
JOURNAL AT SEA. 85
storm. It was not heaven, it was only a foretaste of the eternal
rest. My meditations, however, were disturbed by the sight of a
large fish making liis way after the ship. The sailmaker said it was
probably a shark, because we were now in the " shark country."
Monday, Feb. 14th. My mode of passing my time now is some-
what hke this : — Rise about six, a. m., and commonly spend near
an hour in dressing and walking about deck. From seven to eight,
at the English and Hebrew Bible. Breakfast at eight, and then
History and Mathematics till about noon ; but during this time, I
commonly walk about deck several times, and pay a visit to the
mast-head; also occasionally talk a little. Dinner at one, p.m.,
and tea at six. Between these meals I read Theology and Mis-
cellaneous Literature, diversified, as in the forenoon, by walking,
&c.. and occasionally by a nap, though I prefer taking the nap
just before dinner. After tea, study Astronomy, or stand by the
gangways (our great loafing' places,) and look over into the sea,
or talk with anybody who may come along. It is a time of gen-
eral relaxation. The captain is smoking his cigar on deck, loojj-
ing at the sails and stars, or talking and laughing with some of
the passengers. The ladies are laughing and joking with Mr. 8.,
and Mr. K. occasionally gives a lift when the conversation flags,
or they come to me for a lesson in Starology, or they enter into a
discussion with their brother, or — or — Oh, there's a great many
things too tedious to mention. At eight, p. m., we have prayers in
the cabin, and then an hour is spent sometimes in reading, or
writing, or conversation. At nine we have nuts and raisins, &.C.,
and then off to bed as soon as may be, unless I happen to go out
on deck and get into conversation with the mate, which sometimes
keeps me up longer.
Tuesday, Feb. 15th. Rain during the night, and quite a heavy
shower in the morning. Caught about 100 gallons for the stock,
and the men and boys washed a good many of their clothes, and
hung them about the rigging to dry. It then fell dead calm, and
the ship lay like a log on the water. The captain said it was
just the kind of weather for sharks, and got the shark-hook rig-
ged out, and baited with a piece of pork, and hung it out astern.
Very soon a small shark showed himself, and seized it ; the line
was drawn in, and he was quickly on deck. He floundered about
at a great rate, but was soon hauled to the middle of the vessel,
and a handspike thrust down his throat ; he then received several
blows on the back of the head with a heavy iron hammer, and
lay quite still. Although he was dead, and the second mate open-
ed him, took out all the entrails, and washed the inside of his
body — would you believe it ? — after all this, he floundered about,
and beat the deck violently with his tail, and looked so savage,
that it was found necessary to thrust the handspike down his
mouth again. He very soon died really, and we looked at him. He
was five feet four inches from the nose to end of tail ; fore fins,
fifteen inches long ; back fin, nine inches ; tail, eighteen inches :
86 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
quite a young one. He had evidently been feeding pretty heart-
ily, because in his stomach we found several large pieces of squid,
a fish that is said to grow to as large a size as any in the ocean.
There were a couple of little fishes swimming about him and
clinging to his back, while in the water, and one of them clung so
tight, that he came up on deck with him. It was a sucker, which
I have in spirits, gind will try to send home.
In the afternoon the mate caught a bonito, a fish about two
feet long, and perhaps six inches in diameter in the middle. He
was perfectly round in every part from the head to the tail ; on
the back he was of a most beautiful purple, and the belly was
white and golden yellow in streaks, the colors gradually mingling
with red. Altogether I do not wonder that the Portuguese called
him bonito, the beautiful. The fins on the back and side fold
up like a fan, and can be laid so close to the body that you may
pass your hand over them without feeling them. Its great pecu-
liarity, however, consists in the heart, which is double, the largest
part being red and the other white. The abdominal cavity is
very small, and the fish is almost a solid mass of flesh. We had
part of it cooked, and it formed a not unpalatable dish.
Thursday, Feb. 17th. To-day I paid a visit aloft, and went
out to the end of the main-top-gallant-yard, which is consider-
ably higher than the cross-trees ; but the reason 1 did it was,
I found they had fixed a ladder from the cross-trees to the royal-
mast, so that there was no difficulty. Being now used to being
aloft, I sat on the yard-arm for some time and enjoyed the pros-
pect. It is like being at the top of a steeple. I went up again
by moonlight, and the view was very beautiful, even subhme.
We crossed the hue sometime last night, and were at twelve m.
in lat. 27' south. That is a very good passage. It was just four
weeks yesterday since leaving New York, and four weeks to-day
since leaving Sandy Hook. This is one of the great divisions of
our voyage. We shall now begin to ask how long it will be be-
fore we pass the Cape, and then, how long to the straits of Sunda?
Friday, Feb. 18th. Took the south-east trade-wind about four
o'clock this morning, and we are now moving off gaily in a
south-west course. We shall run down now towards South
America.
This is my birth-day. Another mile-stone in the journey of
my life is past. I have come by a smooth road so far, and it does
not seem long ; but I cannot tell what my road shall be hereafter,
nor how long. I often feel, when I look back, as Milton did on
the same occasion.
" My hasting days fly on with full career,
But my late spring no bud or blossom showeth."
But let them fly-
" If I have grace to use them so,
As ever in my great taskmaster's eye."
JOURNAL AT SEA. 87
Aye — and let them speed their flight. I would not be impa-
tient, I would not desert my post, however incompetent to fill it,
nor however great its dangers, till my discharge comes. But if
they hasten on,
" They'll waft me sooner o'er
This life's tempestuous sea,
Then I shall reach the peaceful shore
Of blest eternity."
This has been a very pleasant day ; too warm to be in the sun,
but in the upper cabin we had a cool breeze all day, and the awn-
ing and sails keep the sun from beating on the roof A shoal of
porpoises were playing under the bows of the vessel for some time,
but they were " old fellows," and kept out of the harpoon's way.
In the evening, saw the Southern Cross for the first time. It has
not been visible before, until after I had gone to bed. I do not
think, however, that any of the constellations I have seen are as
splendid as that of Orion.
A ' booby' was flying about the ship for several hours this after-
noon and evening, and we thought would have lighted on the
rigging ; but he did not. A ' noddy,' however, lighted on the top-
sail yard, but when the boys went up to catch him, he flew off to
another part of the ship, and kept out of harm's way. The booby
is, I should think, as large as a goose, with very long wings ; the
noddy, as large as a large pigeon. The reason why we saw so
many fish and birds the other day was, that we were between the
north-east and south-east trades, where probably many things,
that they use as food, had been collected by the action of the
winds and waves tending to the same point.
Saturday, Feb. 19th. A bark to the westward, bound in the
same direction with ourselves ; she is probably English, from " the
cut of her jib." Hoisted our colors, and she hers ; but as slie is to
leeward, we cannot see them well. Wrote a short letter this after-
noon to send home, if we happen to speak a homeward-bound
vessel. Mr. K. thinks we shall see one to-morrow ; so does the
captain. Why, it would be hard to say ; I hope, however, it will
not be before Monday.
Nothing bothers a sailor so much as a calm. We are now
(ten p. M.) quite becalmed ; and the second mate is walking about,
and saying. " Anything but a calm. It takes all of Job's patience
to bear this. I'd rather have a gale than this,"&c. Yet to me it
is very pleasant ; perhaps it would not be if long continued ; but
this afternoon about five o'clock, it was very delightful. I took a
chair and sat out on deck, under the shade of the sails. There
was just a little light air that played about, making it pleasant ;
the sea was gently heaving, and almost as smooth as if it were
molten glass, and the mild radiance of the setting sun was reflected
on the clouds. All seemed just as Saturday evening ought to be,
— preparing for the rest of the Sabbath. I took out the book,
"American Poetry," which the Misses P.'s gave me, just five weeks
bo MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
ago to-night, and read several of the devotional pieces. I had
read some of them before, but they never seemed so beautiful.
One of them was " The Farewell."
" My native land adieu, adieu,
My course is o'er the sea ;
I sail upon the waters blue,
Far, far away from thee."
Talking with the ladies this evening, we concluded to form a Bible
class, to meet once or twice a week, and study portions of the Old
and New Testament. I do not know yet how it will turn out, nor
how many of the passengers and officers will attend. It may lead
to great results. It may not.
Sabbath, Feb. 20th. A very delightful day, except that we
are becahned most of the day. However, that made it all the
pleasanter for me, on account of its being the Sabbath, and thereby
giving us a quiet time. Preached on Ephesians v. 16, ''Redeem-
ing the time," — a duty greatly neglected on shipboard. In the af-
ternoon we did see a sail, homeward bound, but ten or twelve miles
off, and the breeze so light, that there was no chance of our speak-
ing her. The captain was greatly disappointed. He came away
from home almost sick, and is very anxious to write to his wife.
He is a very kind-hearted man, and often speaks of his family with
very great affection.
Our sunsets now are very splendid. The sky is quite as beauti-
ful as I ever saw it at Princeton ; and if there were only tiie green
fields and waving forests to receive the last rays of light, the pros-
pect would be quite as fine as it commonly is on land. Captain
Lovett is a great admirer of such scenes. After tea, I sat out at
the stern alone, and sang over a number of our old favorite tunes.
No one here cares much about music ; and I generally go by my-
self when I wish to sing ; but in a ship, with so many around, it
is impossible to be all alone.
Monday, Feb. 21st. Trade-wind commenced blowing quite
strong a little before daylight, and we are dashing on, seven or
eight miles an hour. There is a good deal of motion in the ship,
and I have felt rather queer all morning. In fact, had to lie down
before dinner.
Tuesday, Feb. 22d. Still a good deal of motion, and all of
us more or less " uncertain," and very quiet. Had a very heavy
shower of rain this morning; and the watch on deck were busy
washing their clothes. They generally roll up their trowsers above
their knees, and tben kneel down on deck, spread their clothes out
before them, and scrub them with a scrubbing-brush. So much
water runs about the decks when it rains, that they do not need a
tub for the first soaking. They then rinse them out, and fasten
them up in the fore-rigging to dry.
Shortly after the rain commenced, I looked out and saw the
captain standing at the helm, with the wheel in his hands. He
JOURNAL AT SEA.
89
has taken it, till the helmsman could go and get his oil-cloth
jacket. This was a little thing, but " straws show which way
the wind blows." Many a captain would not have showed so
much consideration for a sailor. I think our crew are very well
off. Their potatoes, and soup, and beef, often look very tempting ;
and as for their "duff," (a contraction for dough,) I have seen
many a plum-pudding that did not look a bit better. They are
also provided with pewter plates, and knives and forks, at their
meals : this is an unheard-of allowance. " They are the first of
their family that ever used them." It was thought at first that
they would not care about having them ; and the captain asked
the cook one day, if the men took their plates ? " Take them ! why
they call for them as regularly as if they had a right to theniP^
Our " gentlemen rope-handlers," as they call themselves, are a
fine-looking set. I often notice their arms, which are large and
strong.
Tliis arises from their constant use of their arms, by which the
muscles become very strongly developed. Almost all of them
have some device tattooed on their arms. One has an anchor ;
another, a tree ; another, a ship ; some, a ship and the star-span-
gled banner ; several have a young man and young woman hand-
in-hand, very neatly done. They go about decks dressed in check
or red flannel shirts, and trowsers, with low-crowned hats and
shoes, or no shoes, just as suits their fancy. The sail-maker
" likes these China voyages, a man don't wear out a pair of shoes
in a year." Very few use suspenders ; they hold their trowsers
up by a leather belt round the waist ; and to this belt is attached
a sheath, in which they carry their knives: each one carries a
butcher-knife, which, like the sailor himself, is a "jack of all
trades." They use it to scrape the paint and tar off the ship, to
cut and trim the ropes and sails, in most ships, to carve their salt
beef with, and to supply at once the place of knife, fork, and
spoon.
Thursday, Feb. 24th. A delightful, pleasant day. Captain
" never knew so much fine weather at once on an outward-bound
voyage." Having finished Neal's History of the Puritans, I com-
menced Bancroft, which is quite a relief The evenings are so
beautiful, and the moon shines with such brightness, that I have
spent several of the past evenings on deck. Sometimes gazing on
the evening sky, and suffering all kinds of calm imaginations to
float through the mind, remembering and repeating scraps of poe-
try, like this—
" How many days with mute adieu.
Have gone down yon untrodden sky,
And still it looks as clear and blue
As when it first was hung on high."
Sometimes learning the names of different stars, and comparing
their colors and positions. You know what the Apostle says —
" one star differeth from another star in glory." I often wonder
90
MEMOIR OP WALTER M. LOWRIE.
I never observed that before, for the glory of Sirius, with its more
than kniar brightness?, differs widely from the red blaze of Arcturus ;
and Canopus and Capella, and Regulus and Aldebaran, have
colors that the vocabniary of the earth can hardly name. Truly
the heavens declare the glory of God. At other times I walk on
deck, and think of the past, and the present, and the future.
Sunshine and showers, and smiles and tears, and lofty oaks and
little flowers, mountains and valleys, and rich and poor,— where
was the one ever seen, that the other was not by ?
Had a long talk with tlie sailmaker to-night. He is by birth a
Swede, but left Sweden at the age of four years ; has been at sea
twenty-eight years ; shipwrecked three or four times ; once, off
Cape Horn ; once, seven days without a mouthful of food ; ano-
ther time, seventeen days on so short an allowance, that at the
end of that time hardly one of the crew could walk ; once, nearly
dead from an attack of fever caused by giving up tobacco, which
he was obliged to resume again. He seems to be a serious sort of
a man ; has a number of pious phrases, and said that. " he could
spend two Sundays as easily as one ; always plenty to do on Sun-
day,"— meaning that the Sabbath never hung heavy on his hands.
He says he reads his Bible a great deal, but often wishes he could
get a great many parts of it explained, " which worry and bother"
him. This was just what I wanted, and it was in fact the reason
why 1 commenced talking with him, that I might propose the for-
mation of a Bible class. I accordingl)^ did so, and he seemed very
glad, and said he would try and get some more to join him, and
we shall probably make a commencement next Sabbath.
Monday, Feb. 28th. Fine weather still continues. On Satur-
day, saw a " Portuguese man-of-war", i. e. a little semi-trans-
parent bubble, of a pale rose color, floating on the water. It is a
sea animal substance; is something like jelly. In fine weather, a
•great many are occasionally seen about ships. They are of a
triangular pyramidal form, and are very pretty little things. The
captain prophesied that we should see land on Sunday, and also a
sail. Sunday came — a fine day. " We always have fine weather
on Sunday." Preached in the morning on the Messianic prophe-
cies of Genesis ; attention not so good as heretofore, and I was
afterwards a good deal disappointed when the sailmaker told me
that he had spoken to several of the men about forming a Bible
class, but they were ashamed to be seen in such an employment;
several "would like to, but if they did all the rest would be at
them." However, I have not given up hope yet. We had hardly
got through with the service in the morning, when the second
mate, whose look-out it was, said that land was in sight. It was
the Island of Trinidad, and the rocks of Martin Vas — Lat. 20°
28' S. Long. 20° 50' W. When we saw them first, they were
twenty or thirty miles off; but we afterwards, in the course of the
afternoon, passed within ten or twelve miles of the rocks of Mar-
tin Vas. If you will excuse my drawing, I will give you a sketch,
JOURNAL AT SEA. 91
partly from some pencil marks at the time, and partly from memory.
The rocks are quite barren. There are a few trees on Trin-
idad. It is very common for ships to pass along in sight of
these rocks, their longitude being well-known, to test their chro-
nometers.
I believe almost everybody on board "keeps a journal." The
captain has his, the mates theirs, the ladies theirs. Most of the
men in the forecastle have theirs. The boys down in the steer-
age each have one, and this evening I found Bennet writing up
his journal too, though he is not able to read at all ! So the
voyage of the Huntress will not probably be forgotten entirely.
Bennet puts down all the vessels we see, and the islands we pass.
I asked him if he said anything about the whales? "Oh no, sir,
I have been this way before, and they a'n't nothing strange to
me."
Tuesday, March 1st. Even warmer than yesterday, and still
less wind. What there is however is directly aft, and there is con-
sequently a pleasant draft through the cabins. The poor cook
has a warm place, a little before meal times. The captain went
there after dinner to light his cigar, and found the cook wiping the
sweat off his face. " Oh dear ! dear ! if it's 86° in the cabin, I'd
like to know what it is here !" The boys put their shoes on to-
day, to protect their feet on the hot decks. A sail has been in
sight all day from the topsail-yard, but not from the decks, proba-
bly going like ourselves.
In the evening I was talking with the second mate. He was
on a whaling voyage once, and in a boat which had struck a
sperm whale. The animal went down and came up headforemost
and mouth wide open, directly under the boat, and lifted it about
eight feet out of the water. His teeth went through the bottom of
the boat in several places ; but he went down again, and let them
down into the water without further injury. They managed to
secure the whale, but they found it somewhat difficult to keep the
water from coming into the boat too freely, at the holes his teeth
had made.
92
MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Wednesday, March 2d. Rain in the nioining-, and a much pleas-
anter day. Progress slow. Have ahead y lost all the comparative
advantages of our speedy passage to the line, and the officers
would now be willing to compound for ninety days to Angler, or
even more.
SOLSTITIAL COLURE
After prayers I went out to gaze at the stars, paying particular
attention to those about the south pole. I think that this is the
most splendid part of the heavens ; or at least, that it will very
well compare with that part of which the constellation Orion is the
centre. These stars are all seen at one view ; and though there
are a good many others around, yet they are all smaller than those
I have put down, and also much less nuiuerous than in other
parts of the heavens, and consequently one sees the larger stars
much more distinctly. Of tiiose I have put down, the Southern
Cross is a very beautiful object. It is more like a boy's kite, how-
ever. And the Southern Triangle is also very conspicuous, be-
cause there are almost no other stars near it. The most remark-
able, however, of all these stars, is Bungula. It changes color
every two or three minutes, from a bright red to a beautiful sea-
green, and is constantly twinkling. Looking at it through cap-
tain's spy-glass, it showed the red and green colors combined. The
captain says he can see only the twinkling, but Mr. B., the mate,
and myself, have all remarked the alternations of red and green.
These stars, however, are not the only wonders of this part of the
heavens.
JOURNAL AT SEA. 93
In clear nights when the moon is not sliining, we see also the
Magellan clouds. These are three in number, in the form of iei
ter V.
A, at the vertex of the letter, is situated between Acrux and
Beta in the cross. It is black, but right in the middle is a single
star or luminous opening, that may be seen with the naked eye,
and, examined through the telescope, is quite bright. B is a large,
white cloud, but no stars are seen in it, at least not with the naked
eye ; and C is about one third as large. B and C are about as
bright as the milky-way.
After gazing at these wonderful objects, I turned the spy-glass
to look at the Pleiades. One has no idea on looking at them with
the naked eye, of the number and beauty of the stars in tlie clus-
ter, as seen through a spy-glass.
Thursday, March 3d. A little rain and wind in the morning;
a dead calm from ten a. m. till after sunset ; a sea as smooth as
glass, all the while ; showers after dark, and a light wind after-
wards, which continued all the night, were the external appear-
ances of this day. A solitary porpoise showed himself under the
bows of the boat, but after playing about a little, as if in mockery
of our motionless condition, he swam away. The motions of (he
porpoise are exceedingly rapid, and when the ship is going ten
miles an hour, they will frequently collect together and sport in
the foam, directly underneath lier bows.
I had a long talk about cockroaches. The captain said he
was in a ship wliere there were so many that the captain offered
the boys a bottle of porter for every five hundred they caught, and
that they often obtained that many in a single night. The por-
ter, however, was sour, or he would not have been so liberal. I
have seen none in this ship, which, from this account, is a great
relief
Saturday, Marcb 5th. The men were at work on the rigging
all day yesterday and to-day, and their long-drawn and strange
cries, the development of the muscles of their limbs as they pulled
and hauled about the rigging, and the numerous knots and splices
and contrivances to secure the rigging, have afforded me a good
94 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
deal of instructive amusement. A sail has been in sight all day ;
an English top-sail schooner, going same course with ourselves,
but not so fast ; she has fallen astern.
It seems strange how the time passes away. I have never on
land found it fly more swiftly than it has done this voyage. Sab-
bath comes and Monday, and, almost before I know it, Saturday
night is back again. My employments still occupy all my time.
I commonly prepare a setiiion every week ; and as I meet the
ladies in a Bible class on Sabbath afternoon and Wednesday morn-
ing, that also takes time. I had hoped to have a class formed among
the men, but am afraid I shall not succeed. They seem ashamed
to be seen engaged in such an employment. I stand very much
alone as to religious exercises ; and the worst of it all is, that though
I am engaged in the business, I have not the spirit of Paul. I
look forward with much fear at times to this Chinese mission. It
hardly seems possible, that I should do anything in less than
twenty or thirty years ; and yet I have never seriously allowed
myself to anticipate that length of life. But " sufficient unto the
day is the evil thereof." I do not regret in the least the course I
have taken. I have never wished since I left home, that my face
were turned back to the land of my fathers. Not that I have for-
gotten you. not that I do not prize its privileges. I feel most sen-
sibly even here, that I should rejoice to go up once more with the
great congregation to the house of God. I feel most deeply that
there is an influence in the society of Christians to sustain the man
of God, which he is not aware of, till removed from it. But when
I look back on my short life, smooth and unruffled and unvaried
by any striking occurrence as it may seem to others to have been,
I can mark the way in which I have been led along by an unseen
hand, severely tried and almost bowed to the earth, when others
thought me gay and unconcerned. Yet upheld and impelled on-
ward, time after time, when the indolence or the quietness of my
own temper would have kept me back, I can say, "Thus far hath
the Lord helped me ;" and surely I can say, " Not unto me, but
to thy name give the glory." If my master has so long led me
and fed me in the wdderness, if he has so long guided me on the
voyage of life, and has showed me so many favors hitherto, he
will surely still keep me and bring me at length to my " desired
heaven." If I might but give some proof that the religion I pro-
fess is not in vain, if I might but glorify in some feeble degree the
Saviour who has so graciously redeemed me, then 1 could rejoice
and die. Yet perhaps it is best for me to see little fruit to my la-
bors in my lifetime, that I may not depend on anything short of
the righteousness of Christ Jesus. It would be dangerous for me
to be looked up to as some great one. " The Lord reigneth — let
the earth rejoice." It is well that He chooses our lot, and appoints
us our work. My life has not been long, but it has been amply
long enough to show me that I should fail most wofully, if I had
the sole care of my own course.
JOURNAL AT SEA. 95
Monday, March 7th. Yesterday was a beautifnl day, and my
mind was at peace. I preached on Phil. ii. 6-11, with more ease
and. fluency, and was Hstened to with more attention, than at any
time since coming on board; and when the evening shades came
over the sea, I was happy still. During the day I brought out a
copy of the Pilgrim's Progress, and laid it on the table. In a very
short time Mr. B. was reading it very busily, and when he laid it
down, the captain took it up. "The Pilgrim's Progress!" said
he, " I read this a long time ago, 1 think I would like to read it
again." He commenced right away, and has been reading at it
very busily since. He said this evening that he liked his book very
much. Yesterday evening the sunset was very beautiful. I would
try and describe it. but can give you no adequate idea of it. You
will perhaps wonder that I write so much about the sky and stars,
but except in our own little world on board there is nothing but
sea and sky to write about.
Tuesday, March 8tli. Something of a squall this morning. I
used to think " squalls" were sudden and fearful short storms, but
the word seems to be used at sea with reference to every shower
or gust that passes along. There is usually more or less rain and
wind in the squalls, and unless they are light it becomes necessary
to take in several of the light sails. A great deal of rain fell this
morning, and after the decks were pretty well washed by it, the
men stopped up the scuppers, and let the ducks and geese out to
wash themselves. The poor creatures seemed to enjo)'^ the sport
very much, and played about in the water for an hour with great
glee. I pity the geese especially. They are cooped up in a space
which is necessarily too small, and having no access to water to
wash in, (it is not good to wash them in salt water,) they become
very dirty, get cross, and fight with each other ; and such a treat
as they had to-day will do them more gooa than anything else
that could be conceived of.
Wednesday, March 9th. A fine clear day and fair breeze. Ther-
mometer varying from 69° to 71°, and feeling so cold, (day before
yesterday it was 81°, and the day before that 8.5° in the shade,)
that woollen stockings and coats are in request again. Saw seve-
ral little birds about the size of a large swallow flying about the
ship for several hours. I have been quite surprised to see so many
birds so far away from land. For several weeks past, there has
scarcely been a day when we have not seen some. And several
times we have seen large flocks, — ^once or twice so large, that even
on land the) would excite attention.
There is now no probability of our meeting any more vessels,
as we are out of the course of homeward-bound ships. The " old
man" says it is quite a relief not to be afraid of running foul of
ships at night. When he was in the Liverpool trade, he said he
could hardly sleep at night for fear of encountering some of the
many ships that are constantly crossing the Atlantic.
I went up to the cross-trees to look out on the ocean, and the
96 MEMOIR OP WALTER M. LOWRIE.
scene was indescribably grand. For several miles all around, the
sea was covered with large waves, each v/ave breaking into masses
of foam many yards in extent, and the noise of the winds and
waves together made it impossible for me to hear Mr. B., who
called to me to " go up higher." The sun was shining almost all
day, which added greatly to the splendor of the scene. Several
albatrosses have been fl3nng about the ship, and, though she goes
eight or ten miles an hour, they make nothing whatever of flying
around her, sailing off a mile or two on each side and astern, and
then coming up again. It is wonderful with what ease they fly.
They will go a mile without any apparent motion of their wings,
and that too in the face of a gale, that sent us ploughing up the
waves at the rate of ten or eleven miles an hour. In fact they fly
better when there is a gale than in a calm. It is very hard for
them to rise off the water, unless there is some wind going, but if
there is any wind, they turn their heads to it, and are speedily in
the air. They will skim over the water when it is rough with
waves six or eight feet high, and never wet a feather. The cap-
lain says they have several joints in their wings, (which are pro-
digiously long,) and when the wind is strong, they " take in a reef
and shorten sail." I used to think they were all of one size and
color, but they are not. One that I saw was of " the first magni-
tude,"— wings extending ten feet or more. There are others of
the second, third, and fourth magnitudes. They do not appear,
however, nearly so large when seen flying as when on deck.
Some are white, some are dusky brown, some are brown on the
backs of the wings and white on the body above and beneath, and
on the lower part of the wings. Some have a dark belt or ring
round the neck, and some are somewhat mottled. I have not seen
any otber varieties of color. One old brown fellow flew so close to
the ship's stern, that I could see the white of his eyes.
Monday, March 14th. Preached yesterday on Phil. iii. 1 — 11.
But it being quite a calm, the swell caused the ship to roll so
much, and the rudder creaked so constantly, as it always does in
a calm, that I had not much satisfaction in the exercises. Bible
class, as usual. Mr. B. always attends, though he takes no active
part. I find this quite an interesting and profitable service.
The weather, after being very cold for three or four days, began
to moderate yesterday morning, and now is very comfortable. The
wind is from the north ; which in this part of the world is our
warm wind. I think the sunsets in this part of this hemisphere
are different from those in the United States, but I have not yet
observed them suflficiently to state wherein that difference consists.
It would be endless to describe every sunset, to say nothing of the
impossibility of giving you any idea of sights which I can find no
Words in any language I know to describe.
It is just eight weeks to-day since leaving New York. I hardly
feel as if I ought to say, "since leaving homer because it seems
as if I had no right to say " home." Ps. cxix. 19. I can truly say
JOURNAL AT SEA. 97
T never knew eight weeks to pass so rapidly away. Our vessel
does not seem to glide more swiftly and smoothly over the waves,
than does my time on its course. Last summer oa my trip to
Michigan, when 1 was gone just eight weeks, my time seemed to
be slowly passing, and 1 was anxious to return home. Perhaps it
was because I had not then severed the cords that bound me to my
father's house, and I felt their attraction. Now, when those cords
are severed, and I know not that I shall ever be drawn by them
again, I feel as if I was really cut loose, and going where Provi-
dence may lead me. Yet my thoughts often revert back, and I
feel as if I could wish, though I do not, that I might once more
return ; but I cannot see anything that leads me to cherish the ex-
pectation of returning ; and I prefer not to think mucli of it.
That, however, does not keep me from thinking of you and won-
dering how you are. I never see Chun Sing tripping about the
decks, but it reminds me of the way Reuben used to come laugh-
ing from school, and of an evening when seated around the table,
the ladies with their work, and myself witli a book or chatting, it
reminds me of other days.
Yesterday evening as I was looking up at the stars, one of the
sailors, a young man of very intelhgent countenance and pleas-
ing manner, with whom I had exchanged a few words several
times before, came up to me and began to speak of the stars ;
then of tiie delight one finds in knowledge. This led me to re-
mark, what a proof that was of the immortality of the soul, that
it was constantly expanding in capacity. He then asked me in
a very serious manner, what I thought of the question, "Are any
of the heathen saved who never heard of Christ?" I told him I
thought not, — speaking of adult heathen ; and mentioned several
passages in Romans, that induced me to think as I did. This
led him to say, that he had been in the habit of reading the Bible
every day on this voyage, but he found a great many things he
could not make out or understand. I offered him any assistance
in my power, for which he seemed very grateful, and said he
would avail himself of it. He then said, "What is it to be relig-
ious ? A young lady asked me when in New York last time — -
'Are you religious?' I said, 'Of course I am. I believe in Christ,
— that he is the Son of God, — that he did live on the earth, and
that he died to save men's souls' — was I right in saying I am
religious?" I told him that what he believed was not all that
was necessary ; that many bad men, and even the devils, could
say, they believed that much. " That's true," said he, with a
good deal of emphasis. I then went on to explain what true faith
was, but much to niy regret the watch was soon changed and he
had to leave me. I hope to see him again, however, before long.
I could not help thinking at the time, how little one can tell of
what is passing in the minds of others. A few weeks ago, as I
was thinking over the character of the men on board, I had set
it down in my mind, that this young man would be the least
7
98 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
likely to think of religion of almost all on board. There seemed
to be a sort of "don't care about it" air in him. I regret that I
have very few opportunities of nuich intercourse with the men.
There are almost always several of them together. Indeed I
scarcely ever see one alone, except the man at the wheel ; and it
is against the rules to talk with him : consequently T have few
means of influencing them except on the Sabbath. The ship is-
so well supplied witii tracts, through Mr. Gillespie's care, that I
find but little use for mine.
Saturday, March 19th. Though busy all the time, nothing
special has occurred to be noticed since Wednesday. We have
had a fine breeze ever since, that has carried us on bravely ; and
if it had only held oiit^vould probably have carried us to the
longitude of the Cape to-morrow. To-day is Saturday, however,
and the wind has fallen considerably since last night. It is clear-
ing up for Sunday. There is. however, a great deal of swell in
the ocean, so much so that at times we are in danger of losing
our seats, and taking a berth on the floor. Last night in the
cabin, we had quite a little scene. The ship gave a su(klen
lurch, which nearly sent the little lamp on the floor. Miss G.
caught hold of it, but as there was some oil on it as well as in it,
she got a quantity on her hands, and nearly lost her balance;
besides, Mr. B. started up at the same time to catch the lamp,
and before he had time to take two steps, found himself nearly
at full length on the floor ; while Mrs. G. and myself found our-
selves involuntarily coming very close to each other. However,
no damage was done, and we had a hearty laugh at each other.
This morning Mr. B. and myself were walking on deck, and a
sudden roll to leeward, as we were walking over a wet spot, caused
his loot to slip and down he came. As he fell his foot touched
mine, and I went after him, and we had another laugh at each
other, and were laughed at by others who saw us scrambling up
again. It is now quite cool. Thermometer, .58° to-day. Have
all my winter clothes on, and have begun to think of my over-coat
and cloak. There has been some talk of having the stove up,
but scarcely any of us wishes it. There is a constant rolling in
the sea, and one might get his fingers scorched by coming too near
the stove, when the ship rolls.
We all seem to move on very harmoniously, and the time seems
to roll rapidly on. Mr. K. is the most desirous of seeing the end
of our voyage, and often talks of Angier and China. This morn-
ing. Miss G. remarked, " How quickly the Saturdays come round !"
" Ah !" said Mr. K., " that's because of your French lessons."
Miss G. does not study with us, but she seems to enjoy the occu-
pation as much as any one. Nearly every morning, Mr. B. and
Mrs. G. sit down together to study out the lesson, and it is quite
amusing to hear them trying to translate the hard places. Mr. B.
has a great deal of that humor which enlivens without dazzling,
and Mrs. G. puts on a sober countenance, and asks him questions,
JOURNAL AT SEA. 99
pretending at times to scold liim, but evidently enjoying his sallies
of humor very much ; while Miss G. sits by with her work, at
times laughing heartily at a mistake, or a joke, or a puzzled look,
as the case may be.
Sabbath, March 20th. A fair pleasant day to commence with,
but soon clouded over. Preached on 2 Tim. iii. 16 ; but as there
was some wind, and a heavy sea, which there is constantly here,
the mizzen-mast creaked dreadfully, and I had little satisfaction
in the services. Besides, I saw it was growing darker, and the
men were looking out occasionally, as if a squall were coming.
The services were no sooner over than they were called to the
ropes to take in some of the sails. So we had it, showers and sun-
shine, the rest of the day. About nine A. m., the breeze freshened,
so that we went on ten miles an hour. Tliis has continued till
the present time, Monday, p. m. About dark, things looked so
squally, that it was thought necessary to send down the main
royal-yard — the fore and mizzen-royals had been sent down seve-
ral days ago — -and we had showers and squalls till I went to bed,
after ten p. m. Going out about seven a. m., I found that the greater
part of the sails were furled, and we were driving on under close-
reefed topsails. The ship looked very bare with so many of her
sails taken in, and as the sea was high, she rolled more than I
ever knew her to do before. The wind whistled through the rig-
ging, and our ship dashed on like a frightened bird ; but everything
is snug and secure, aud as far as we can see, there is no reason for
alarm. Several little birds are flying about, and apparently enjoy-
ing the commotion of the water. As I looked at them, several
times to-day, I thoughtof the words of our Saviour, "Not one of them
falleth to the ground without your heavenly Father. Will lie not
much more save you, O ye of little faith !" It is pleasant to be
thus reminded of the presence of our all-gracious God.
In consequence of this gale, we have made in twenty-four hours
more than two hundred and fifty miles ; the best day's work. Cap-
tain L. says, he has ever made. We shall also be in the longitude
of the Cape to-day, making this the most speedy of the seven voy-
ages he has made round it. Surely the winds and the waves have
had charge over us. The air is cool, but we are all in fine spirits,
and none of us sea-sick in the least. Owing to the motion of tiie
ship, it was almost impossible to sit on a chair, and after several
expedients, we took the long cushion off the transom, and laid it
down on the floor, and sat on it somewhat a la Tarque ; yet even
then we could scarcely keep our seats, but were several times slid-
ing off to the other side of the cabin. It was, as you may sup-
pose, rather an amusing scene.
Tuesday, March 22d. The waves were even higher than yes-
terday, and were much broken, so that to look out astern, or off"
from the side of the ship, there seemed to be a large number of
rocky hills in the sea, and the ship was making her way over and
between them. I have seen nothing so grand since the voyage
100
MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
commenced. The waves would mount up twenty feet or more,
and burst into a wide sheet of foam ; while still further off, the
white foaming- tops of others would lift themselves up in the hori-
zon, and the constant dashing and roaring of the waves combined
together to fill the mind with exalted ideas of Him, who holds the
waters in the hollow of his hands, and stilleth the noise of their
waves. " An undevout astronomer is mad," but surely a careless
sailor is worse: with the tokens of God's power and presence every-
where around him, one would think he could not move a muscle
without thinking of his Maker and Preserver. Yet, alas ! he does
not like to retain God in his knowledge. But though the scene
was grand, it was not very comfortable on board. Such constant
rolling and tossing and pitching of the ship, made it almost impos-
sible to study ; and it was very fatiguing either to sit, stand, or
walk. To lie down was useless, unless one was bolstered up on
both sides. We had quite a scene at the table. One of the ladies,
just before sitting down, had been thrown, by a sudden and violent
lurch, clear across the cabin ; and had she not managed to catch
by the door, would have gone headlong into the pantry. As it
was, she sprained her arm slightly. After we sat down, we had
another sudden roll, and the salt-cellar turned over between Mr.
K. and myself; then the milk jug emptied about half its contents
into the butter dish, and the bread and plates and knives and forks
began to look about them, as if they thought of going overboard.
It then became quiet again, and we thought we should have some
peace, when another roll came along, and each one seized all he
or she could lay hold of, and sat and looked at the other articles
flying about the table. I went to bed quite tired, and having a
cushion at my back to keep me from banging against the side of
my berth, managed to sleep pretty well.
Thursday, March 24th. The wind began to freshen last night
after dark, and at eight o'clock all hands were called, and a reef
taken in, in the main-sail and the top-sail, and the fore-top-gal-
lant-sail was furled. Turned in at my usual hour, but was wa-
kened about one in the morning by an exceedingly heavy shower,
wliich beat down on deck with an amazing force. I did not yet
get up, but soon found by the motion that the wind had risen, and
the ship rolled exceedingly.
I think the sailing of the albatross is one of the most beautiful
sights I have ever .seen, and when several of them are together, it
is really grand. The other day I saw eight of the largest size
close together, and they flew up and down, and one way and the
other, and in circles, and crossed each other's paths so rapidly, that
the eye could hardly follow them in their flight. They move with
such perfect ease, and have such complete command over their
motions — at one time darting off like an arrow from a bow full
bent, then slowly rising in the air and floating almost motionless
in the sky, then careering round the ship when at her full speed,
as if contemning her comparative sluggishness, — ^I have watched
JOURNAL AT SEA. lOl
them by the hour. The beauty of their motions amply compen-
sates for what may be called the ungracefulness of their bodies.
I do not think their shape handsome, though doubtless it is the
best for their modes of life. How pleasant it is for the Christian
to think, when he looks at these birds, that tliey are not beings in
which he need feel no interest : they are made by his best friend,
and he sees in them new proofs of the wisdom and goodness of
God. It is transporting to be able to say, " My Father made
them all."
Saturday, 26th. Last night we had a strong wind, which kept the
ship steady. This afternoon the wind gently died away ; for an
hour we had a perfect calm. The ocean, however, even in the most
perfect calms, is never still. The surface may become glassy, !)ut
there is a constant heaving ; and commonl}^, in calms, we see what
Edwards calls "continual, infinitely various, successive changes
of unevenness on the surface of the water." The sun is setting
in a cloudy sky, and we shall probably have a gale in a very
short time.
Monday, 28th. Yesterday we had a fine breeze all day, though
rather too much ahead. The siiip pitched a good deal, which
made some of our company feel quite unpleasant. Preached on
John iii. 6. The mizzen rigging had been set up the day before,
and there was no creaking. I found it a little difficult to stand
steadily, when the ship pitched, but in other respects was very
well placed, and the services were attended to as well as I have
seen them before. I have no doubt, however, some of my hearers
would think it was " a hard saying," though I heard no remarks.
Numerous stormy petrels were flying about the ship in the fore-
noon, but our expected storm did not come. The air, however,
was exceedingly damp all day and all this morning. It is now,
however, clearing away, and the sun is shining very pleasantly.
Tuesday, 29th. The sail we saw yesterday is out of sight now.
We have walked away from her, and made five degrees of longi-
tude in twenty-four hours. It is remarkable how fond a whole
ship's company are of praising a good ship : the captain says,
" The Huntress steers like a duck ;" Mr. K., " We had a famous
run last night ;" one of the boys, " The Huntress can't be beat ;"
mate, " What better than this would any one want ?" The fog
and mist came down again last night like small rain ; they call it
a Scotch mist. It is caused by the northerly wind, which we have
had for several days ; the wind becomes charged with vapors in
the warm latitudes north of this, which become visible in this cool
place ; though for several days past, owing to some north wind,
the weather has been very pleasant.
I suppose Roberts is to-day finishing his last session but one at
College. I can hardly realize that it is five years since I was in
the same situation. It was just a little before that, perhaps two
or three months, that I had decided to be a missionary. What
shall happen in the next five years J I am beginning to feel pretty
102 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Strongly the responsibility resting upon me, in my first movements
in China, and could wish I were safely landed at Singapore. The
rest of our passengers are talking with great animation of Angier,
and the delicious fruits, &c., which Mr. K. tells them they shall
find there. We hope to be at Angier in two or three weeks. Mrs.
G. talks most of Hong Kong, where her husband is, and of home.
" Home ! thy joys are passing lovely,
Joys no stranger heart can tell ;
Happy home ! 't is sure I love thee,
Yet to thee /'re said farewell."
Yet it may be, that I alone of this ship's crew shall ever see home
again ; who knows ? But I do not wish that it should be so.
Saw a very large flock of stormy petrels to-day ; also saw a very
large albatross rising high in the air, and hovering with his bill
to the wind ; also saw the clouds to the north in a position which
sailors call an " eye." All these, the mate says, are signs of an ap-
proaching gale. The wind is rising some, the barometer falhng a
little, and the spray frequently dashing over the ship's side. We
shall see whether the signs are true or not.
Friday, April 1st. This has been a cold, unpleasant day. Heavy
clouds almost all the time, and though no rain, yet so damp that
my hands had a cold clammy moisture on them all the time.
Everything felt damp and chilly. The wind was very strong ever
since yesterday evening, and we have come two hundred and sev-
enty miles in twenty-four hours. In six days we have run four-
teen hundred and twelve miles, and all with one wind. No one
on board this ship ever saw such sailing. At the same time the
wind has been so steady, that there has been comparatively little
motion in the ship. Surely it is not luck that has thus brought
us on.
Saturday, April 2d. About half past five, p. m., yesterday, while
the wind was as strong as ever, the mate told me it was going to
change to the opposite side, and " blow great guns." I went into
my room about six. I had not been there half an hour, before I
felt the ship rolling from side to side, and on going out, I found
that the wind had " broken off short," and hght puffs of air were
coming from the opposite quarter. The ship was rolling about
and making very little progress ; so it continued till about three
o'clock this morning, when our old wind, or one very much like it,
came back again, and we are now dashing on as before ; so our
wise ones were mistaken as to the course of the expected wind.
But it was certainly very remarkable, that after the wind should
blow strongly, without a moment's intermission, for six days, it
should all at once break off, and then after a short interval re-com-
mence.
Monday, April 4th. The wind began to increase towards even-
ing on Saturday so much, that we anticipated a rough night. At
eight, p, M., all hands were called, and a reef taken in the topsails.
JOURNAL AT SEA. 103
About eleven, p. m., just as I was falling asleep, I was wakened
by a loud order, "Furl the main top-gallant-sail." It was near
midnight before I got asleep, and I was wakened several times by
the noise of the men at the ropes. The Sabbath dawned with
every appearance of an unpleasant day. Soon after breakfast I
was talking with the mate on deck, and before I well knew it,
found myself well covered by a shower of spray, much to the
amusement of Mr. B., who saw me, and of the mate, who having
himself escaped with a sHght sprinkling, said, "I'm very sorry for
you, Mr. Lowrie, but really, I can't help laughing at you." There
was too much motion, and too much prospect of a gale, to have
preaching; and being cold and dajnp, it was a very unpleasant
day. None of us felt very well, and we were all glad to turn in.
Meanwhile the wind had gone on increasing; occasionally rain
fell; barometer falling ; captain on deck almost all the time. By
eight, p. M., all the topsails were close-reefed, and all the upper and
lighter sails carefully furled. The ship rolled a good deal, and it
was hard to sleep. About eleven, p. m., I heard the men working
at the mizzen-topsail-sheets, just above my head, and concluded
they were furling that sail, a pretty good sign that the gale was
increasing. Awoke several times afterwards, and always heard
them working at the ropes ; two or three times knew by the sing-
ing that all hands were called, and on going out before breakfast
time, found the gale had so increased that we were lying to, under
close reefed main-topsail, and main-spencer. Sky overclouded,
wind whisihng, as if our ship was some vast ^olian harp, and
the sea heaped up around in wild confusion. Very little Avater,
however, came over the sides of the ship, and the sun soon came
out, and made things look more cheerful. Still the wind has
blown violently all day, and we have lain to, making almost no
progress, but drifting off to the south. We expected to have seen
St. Paul's to-day, but the wind has driven us so far out of our
course, that we shall not probably see it at all. Captain Lovett
was up and out all last night, and all this forenoon. About noon
the barometer began to rise.
About four o'clock the wind having moderated and hauled aft,
while 1 was writing the above, I heard the order, "Loose the fore-
topsail." "Good!" thought I, laying down my pen and running
out. All hands were called ; fore and mizzen-topsails, (close-
reefed,) fore and mainsails, and fore-topmast-staysails, were set to
the breeze, and a reef shook out of the main-topsail, and we are
again on our way, after lying to just twelve hours. So we have
had a storm. I do not think, however, that the sight has been as
grand as what we saw ten days ago. It has been a pretty anxious
time for the officers. Captain L. after being up all night and all
forenoon, lay down in his berth for about an hour, and then came
out again. I asked him if he had had any sleep? " Well, I don't
know, but I believe I did. Every time the ship made a deep roll,
though, I was awake."
104
MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Tuesday, April 5th. Strong breeze and very heavy swell. The
sea is " troubled, and it cannot rest," but the sun is shining down
brightly, and we speed on our way across the foaming waves. A
shoal of porpoises were playing about the ship this afternoon.
The vessel was going nine miles an hour, and dashing the foam
away in immense volumes, but they played about imder her bows
and in the foam, as if she were at anchor. The mates tried to
harpoon some of them, but did not succeed. The harpoon went
into one of them, and he was hauled several feet out of water, but
the iron did not hold, and he got off. Sailors say the porpoises
play about that way before a gale of wind. Saw also an albatross
sailing up very high in the air; another sign. Quite a flock of
albatrosses showed themselves a little after sunset. I saw seven
of the largest size flying close together ; but it was too cold to
stand and watch them.
Thursday, April 7th. Yesterday was a very pleasant day, though
rather cool ; sun shone all day, and a moderate wind carried us
gently on. To-day the wind is strong, and in fact is increasing
so that we have had a reef taken in each of the topsails, and all
the sails above furled. The wind is so nearly ahead, that we
cannot keep our course, but are going more to the northward than
is desirable. It is surprising to see in how many different direc-
tions one can go with the same wind, or how one may make winds
that blow in opposite directions send him forward in the same
course. This is done by shifting the yards, so that the sails may
obtain the full benefit of the different breezes. Thus, one going
from west to east, as we are, can proceed with any one of the
winds represented by the arrows
A, B, C, &c., to G. Of these
winds, C and E are the best, be-
cause they strike all the sails,
while a wind from D would not.
Pilot boats can go with the wind
H and J, i. e. within " four points ;"
ships cannot go within " six
points." Each of the quadrants
above are supposed to be divided
into eight points, as in the mari-
ner's compass. The wind we
have to-day is G, or S. S. E. I'm
at a loss to know how you will
receive this disquisition. If you did not know these things before,
I take it for granted you will be glad to learn them ; but if you
did, then I beg pardon for troubling you on the subject.
Saturday, April 9th. After rather a restless night, owing to the
ship's rolling so much, 1 went out in the morning and found all
sails set, and studding-sails out; so we are "out of the woods
now," with a fair prospect before us. This has been a very pleas-
ant day, though our course has been rather slower than usual.
JV
JOURNAL AT SEA. 105
However, " we are glad, because we be quiet," and hope soon to
be brought to our " desired haven."
Sabbath, April 10th. A most beautiful day. The sun has been
shining out of a blue sky, upon a still deeper blue ocean, and the
light fleecy clouds have hung around the sky as if delighted spec-
tators of the peaceful scene. Although not going rapidly, we have
still gone fast enough to leave no room for impatience, and con-
sequently nearly all are in a good humor.
Preached on John iii. 3 : the nature and necessity of regenera-
tion; and was very attentively listeued to. The mate told me
afterwards he was talking with " Boston Bill" about my sermon,
and asked him if he did not think there was a great deal of truth
in it. He answered, " he believed there was ;" but he quoted from
my sermon the remark, that Christians would try to do good to
others, and then said, "Now I've been with men who said they
were Christians, and yet they were trying to injure others all the
time." This is one of the many excuses men make for continuing
in impenitence. Another that has equal weight with tire Ijetter
educated part of our company is, that " Christians are always
quarrelling among themselves." I think I shall prepare a sermon
on the text, " And they all began with one consent to make ex-
cuse." Bible class as usual in the afternoon; so pass away our
Sabbaths. I sometimes wish I could again go up to the sanctuary
with the great congregation ; but I find that that God, who is
" the confidence of all the ends of the earth," is also the confidence
" of them tiiat are far off upon the sea." I have taken " the wings
of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea" Yet,
even here ! " His hand leads me, and his right hand upholds me."
What a glorious thing it is to serve such a God ! to be able to say,
" This God IS our God forever and ever !"
Tuesday, April 12th. Pleasant weather still. A sail in sight
about two o'clock ; soon came near enough to make out that she
was a whaler. She ran up the stai-«spangled banner, and we the
same ; presently she crossed our bows, and coming, or rather fall-
ing nearer, ran up her flag again — a sign that she wanted to speak ;
so we took in all our light sails, and put the yards round so as to
make the ship go slower, and she came up astern, but in speak-
ing distance. Asked us where we were from, and if we had any
papers to spare. Captain answered, " Yes," and we held on till
her boat could come alongside. They speedily lowered one, and
half a dozen men jumped down into it, and came dancing over the
wav^es to us. Their boat was sometimes almost hidden by the
waves, but they did not seem to mind them at all. They were
soon alongside, and their mate and a couple of men came up on
deck. They were rough-looking customers compared with our
crew, though the latter were in their every-day dress. It was the
ship Palladium, of New Bedford ; out eight months; had 1000 bar-
rels of oil from sixteen whales ; had not seen land for four months ;
had been south amonsf the iceberg's ; were ffoinsj to New Holland
106 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
soon ; crew of thirty men. I asked the mate if they had any
boolcs. "Well, yes, some'; but what we have, have been read
pretty often." Captain gave him two or three dozen of news-
papers, and I hastily wrapped up a handful of Tracts, and Dod-
dridge's " Rise and Progress," and Pike's " Religion and Eternal
Life," and with a silent prayer for a blessing on them, gave them
to him. He then asked the captain if he could spare them any
vegetables ; and got a keg full of potatoes and onions, &c., and -
then off again. They have men constantly aloft, one at the fore
and one at the main-mast-head, who are relieved every two hours.
In this way they saw us several hours before we saw them. I
ought to have said above, that before I had fully decided to offer
any tracts, Mr. Gillespie asked me " Where my tracts were,"
for which stirring up of my mind by way of remembrance, 1 was
very grateful. He had fixed up a small bundle for such an occa-
sion himself, but coidd not find it at the time ; so he wrapped up
a few in a " Pictorial Brother Jonathan," and told the mate of the
other, vessel to "put that in his hat." I asked the man if they
had any Bibles on board. " Oh, yes ! w^e belong to a strong tem-
perance concern." As our captain says, "I would like to lean
over their fore-scuttle at night, and hear what those old fellows
will say of us." Unless our crew informed their men otherwise,
they will probably imagine that there are two young missionaries
in this ship, Mr. B. and myself, with their wives ! The men
seemed greatly embarrassed by the appearance of our ladies, as
they were in their every-day dress, which, in their occupation, is
necessarily a very ordinary-looking one ; and the perfect cleanness
of our ship would contrast strongly with their oil-stained, weather-
w^orn vessel.
You can hardly conceive the pleasure such a rencontre gives to
one who, for three months, has seen only the same faces and the
same scenes. It seems to expand the feelings that have become
contracted to our own little sphere, and to connect us once more
W'ith the great world of mankind, some of whose representatives
w^e have just met. We all seem to be in better spirits, and to talk
as if under the influence of some excitement. Numberless are the
conjectures we have formed already, of their feelings and occupa-
tions, &c. * But it's late, past ten, p. m. with us, though it is hardly
noon with you, and I am too sleepy to pen anything more. — Good
night.
Wednesday morning, April 13th. Dreamed last night that I
was just leaving home, that you had all come down to the ship
except sister Mary, who could not bear the idea of saying farewell
under such circumstances, and would not come down. We were
about to exchange the last words, when I awoke, and w^as glad to
find that I had not again to undergo the pain of parting. I sup-
pose my dream was caused by liaving seen the vessel yesterday,
which carried my mind back to the country from which we both
came.
s JOURNAL AT SEA. 107
I believe the mind is always tiiinking ; even when we sleep and
do not remember it afterwards, we have been thinking. Now the
dream I had this morning occurred just while I was awaking, and
was probably the close of a great many flights of fancy of a similar
kind. Wonder what I was thinking of all night ; how many visits
I paid you all ; and how many old scenes came up before my mind.
Shall I ever know? Can it be possible that all these thoughts
that pass in the night, and we do not recollect them, are forever
gone? Perhaps in another world we may recognize, among the
sensations we shall then experience, some that have visited us, " in
the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon us." Who
knows but that the ideas, (iiat in some favored seasons gush up so
copiously in our minds, are but transcripts of our unremembered
meditations ? I was laying out the plan of a sermon yesterday on
the text " and they all with one consent," &c., and scarcely ever
found my ideas flow so readily. I know I was dreaming of that
subject only a night or two before, for I recollect of answering, in
my sleep, an objection against the doctrine of election, made by
one of our company. Who knows how much our conduct is shaped
during the day by the impressions our dreams in the night, even
though we knew not that we dreamed, may have left upon our
minds ? But I beg pardon. I had no idea of philosophizing in
this way. I wonder if this disquisition is the transcript of some
metaphysical train of thought I had in some of my dreams lately.
It certainly came unexpectedly, " from mine own heart, so to my
head, and thence into my fingers trickled. Then to my pen, from
whence immerliately on paper I did it dribble daintily." As honest
John Bunyan says of a much more instructive dream.
Friday, 15th March. A strong breeze was blowing all day yes-
terday, and had not the news been almost too good to be true, we
should have thought it the south-east trade. However, it continues
to-day, and there can be little doubt that we have the looked-for
wind. Thus we are going gaily on our course, without having to
beat about among the variable winds that are commonly found
between the regular western winds in Lat. 40° and the trade-wind,
which commonly is taken in Lat. 28° south. We had anticipated
being delayed thus for three or four days, whereas we had no
sooner lost the western winds, than this wind took us up. These
are very curious things. In Lat. 40° north and south, and for
several degrees on each side, the wind blows from the west almost
constantly ; from about 30° to 10° or 5°, north and south, they
blow from the north-east and south-east respectively ; these are the
north-east and south-east trades. On each side of the equator for
a few degrees, variable winds prevail ; and commonly between the
western winds and the trade-winds there is a space of several de-
grees where the winds vary a good deal. It has been by these
regular winds that we have made the greatest part of our voyage.
108 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE. y
JNEW YORK
^""vJCS-T-Egi-Y WINDS ^
VABIABLE\WINDS
>./ / /
N.E.TRADE-. WINDS /
VARIABLE,- WINDS CpUATOR ^
V ANGIEfV*
•^■•''' ■ v.N<
yS.E./TRADE WINDS \X/vN
^ ■■ \\ \ S.E.TRADE/WINDS
VfiycOOD HOPE / ^
variable'-.winds
WESTERLY WINDS'
Excuse the rudeness of my diagram. The line sketches roughly
our course fiom New York to Angier. We first came well to the
east, by the regular westerly winds ; then south-east across the
north-east trade. Then crossing the equator with variable winds, we
ran off well to the westward, across the south-east trade. Then
after going as we could for several days among changing winds,
we struck the great south range of westerly winds, which brought
us from Long. 20° W. to Long. 90° E., nearly 6000^ miles. One
breeze alone during that part of our voyage carried us 1430 miles
in six days and two hours. The arrows in my diagram mark the
course of the regular winds.
What grand things these winds are ! Just to think of one
breeze blowing steadily for days together over a space of a thou-
sand or fifteen hundred miles, ruffling the surface of the old ocean,
and playing with a giant strength among his hoary locks ! And
then when the rain comes down in wide-spread torrents, and the
voice of the thunder sounds along the waves, how does the gran-
deur of the scene put to shame our bellows and our watering-pots,
our mimic experiments, and our boasted inventions for controlling
the laws of nature ! Who can talk of the greatness of man, when
surrounded by such proofs of the omnipresent power of God ? True,
it is a wonderful thing to see a little ship urge onward her course
among such mighty elements, and some may say, " Behold here
the power of man ! superior to the winds and the waves." But
who filled man's heart with the wisdom to invent and guide a
vessel over such abysses, amid such contending forces ? He may
laugh when it is calm, but when storms arise, and he is " at his
wits' end," he will acknowledge that there is a God who reigneth
in the earth ; and, blessed be his name ! he is " Our FathcrP
Saturday, April 16th. In the torrid zone again. Warm in the
JOURNAL AT SEA. 109
sun, and extremely pleasant in the shade. Our old friends the
albatrosses left us several days ago. I do not recollect seeing" any
larare ones since last Tuesday, the day we spoke the whaler.
To-day we are within six hundred miles of New Holland. Our
course now is nearly north. " Sail, O !" Another ship coming-
this way, a whaler : passes about five miles off, and runs up the
star-spangled banner, or " Gridiron" as the sailors call it. No
time to stop ; in an hour she is out of sight. A dull life they
must have of it. Cruising about for months at a time, and not
seeing a whale ; nothing in the world to do.
Saturday night, ten o'clock. We are now directly on the oppo-
site side of the globe from you, or within one degree of it, so that
with you it is ten, a. m. Saturday night ! and the Sabbath draws
near. If I could spend every week as pleasantly as 1 have spent
the past, I could rejoice in long life ; but it is pleasant to think,
that there remaineth — after all the privileges of this world — still,
" there remaineth^ over and above them all, a rest — a auSSitTtauog^
— a keeping of Sabbath, for the people of God." Rest is sweet ;
and O, to think of rest from sin, rgst from temptation, rest ^rom
disappointment, rest from sorrow, rest in the peaceful haven after
long toiling over the uncertain, restless ocean, and long struo^oflina-
with adverse winds ! Surely it is well we have thus to labor and
to suffer, it will make the end more Joyful. Yet it is hard at times
to resist the desire to " fly away and be at rest." But it is well
that the all- wise God holds "our times in his hands." He will
give the signal when it is the best time to cease from labor, and
therefore —
" Here my spirit waiting stands
Till He shall bid it fly."
Sabbath, April 17th. A dull, rainy Sabbath, with a light wind ;
pleasant enough, however, in other respects. Saw a flock of fly-
ing fish, the first I have seen for several weeks. Cleared off
beautifully before sunset, and the trade-wind came back again
strongly.
Preached on Luke xiv. 18, " And they all began with one con-
sent to make excuse." Spoke of the principal excuses men make
for not repenting and believing : as, 1. " I have not time." 2.
" Religion is a gloomy thing, and a hard and mean service." 3.
"The Bible is so hard to be understood, and some of its doctrines,
as election, (fcc, so absurd." 4. " Christians are hypocrites, and
there are so many sects, so that there is no truth in religion." 5.
" There's time enouglj yet — I do not mean to die so." The atten-
tion generally was better than I bSive yet seen among the men,
and several of them I observed watching me very closely all the
time. I understood they had rather an argument about the ser-
mon afterwards in the forecastle, though I did not hear the pur-
port of it. Yet, alas ! it seems almost hopeless to preach to these,
people. Like the prophet of old, I seem to be " in the midst of the
valley of bones, and, lo, they are very dry. Can these dry bones
110 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
live ? O Lord God, thou knowest." Yet in his name would I
" prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones,
hear ye the word of the Lord." And I would also " prophesv to
the winds, and say, Come from the four winds, O breath, and
breathe upon these slain." I wonder if Christians at home, who
know that a missionary is on his way to the heathen, ever think
of praying that he may be a blessing to the almost heathenish
sailors, as he sails with them week after week. How little suc-
cess would commonly attend the minister's labor at home, if he
had not the prayers of his people to assist him ! Yet in cases of
this kind, the missionary most commonly stands alone, and has
to preach to some who scarcely know what are the very first prin-
ciples of Christianity — to some who, like one of our crew, " have
not had a Bible for many years, nor heard a prayer for seven
years ;" to some who, like another, know not that there is any
difference between the " faith the devils have," and the faith that
" works by love, and purifies the heart ;" to some who, like ano-
ther, think that "if a man goes to church, he is safe enough," and
thate" those Christians are mistaken, who say that men are nat-
urally averse to religion ;" to men rendered reckless of danger by
long familiarity with it ; who will curse and swear when out in a
little boat on a raging sea, seeking if they may find a comrade
who had just fallen overboard in a dark night. This is a fact
that occurred in this ship on the last voyage ! — to say nothing of
the evil habits they acquire on shore, and the evil examples they
there see, and of the effects these must have upon them. They
have long felt that " no man cared for their souls," and they make
this an additional excuse for continuing as they are. Surely it is
" casting bread upon the waters" to preach to such. Yet God is
all-powerful, and some things that have come to my knowledge
of late, make me think that the Holy Spirit has not yet left this
ship's company to themselves.
Monday, April l&th. Getting ready to go ashore, i. e., the ship
is. The men have been at work most of this day getting the
guns up out of the hold and mounting them. They were stowed
away below shortly after leaving New York. Being quite heavy,
it took several men to hoist them up out of the hold, and they
raised the song of " Cheerily, oh cheerily," several times. This
is a favorite song with the seamen. One acts as leader, and in-
vents as he goes along, a sentence of some six or eight syllables,
no matter what. To-day some of the sentences were, " Help me
to sing a song ;" " Now all you fine scholars ;" " You must excuse
me now," &c. ; then comes in a semi-cliorus " Cheerily oh !" then
another sentence, and a full chorus, " Cheerily oh -.---.-.^'n.-^-^v-'nvx^n^
cheerily.'''' Just imagine the sounds and music of that waving
line ! The song is exciting, and heard at the distance of the
ship's length is very beautiful. I have just now been listening to
music of another kind. The sea is smooth, all is quiet, and we
are sailing on at eight miles an hour, and as the ship cuts her
JOURNAL AT SEA. Ill
way through the water and throws away the waves from her
bows, she makes a soft and pleasant sound. We are now going
dhectly north. The Great Bear again appears in our sky, and
we shall hope soon to see the Polar star.
Tuesday, April 19th. Warm, sultry day, and several heavy
showers. What is the use of rain on the sea? why should the
water, after having been so carefuU}^ drawn up by the svm, be
poured down again to the place from which it came? Surely this
was all foreseen by him who causes the rain to fall, and he had
some design in it. It is hardly a sufficient answer to say, that
these showers at sea are of great service to sailors, for vast quan-
tities fall where no ships are, and fell for thousands of years be-
fore ships sailed over the ocean. Yet surely they are of use. I
have been puzzling my brain for a long tune to thid out the final
cause, as theologians say, of this phenomenon, but I fear with
very little success. Perhaps fresh water is as necessary for the
inhabitants of the sea, as salt is for us along with our food. Per-
haps those winds which, after sweeping for so many thousands of
miles over the salt water, and in such hot climates as this, need
to be purified and to have their unwholesome qualities thus ac-
quired removed, by having the rain come and pass through them,
filtering away, if I may use such a figure, their impurities, before
they blow upon the land or influence at all the air men breathe.
Who knows what influences are necessary to preserve tlie atmos-
phere of the earth in its purity? — and what part of those influ-
ences is excited by the rains that fall on land, and at sea, and "in
the wilderness where no man is ?" But this is one of the " things
that are too wonderful for me." Men pass over such things often-
times as uninteresting, because of their ignorance of what is
really in them. So it is in regard to everything. We are often
told that the life of such and such men is uninteresting, void of
incidents, and dull. Professors of rhetoric, and critics, tell us
that only great subjects and the lives of great men, furnish suita-
ble themes for an epic poem. But surely the life of every man,
however poor and mean he may be, could we but know it all,
would furnish such a subject for an epic poem as would astonish
even Homer and Milton. There would be the secret counsels of
God respecting him from all eternity ; the unnumbered and al-
most the innumerable incidents in his birth and in his after life,
when good and evil angels watched over and influenced him, and
when the providence of God was busied about him ; the narrow
escapes from evil ; the wohd falls, or the triumphant victory ; all
the feelings in his own mind, and their varied causes ; the plans
of others with respect to him, and their influence over him ; the
effects of his actions, outlasting his own life, and reaching far off
amidst almost infinite ramifications to the end of time ; the vari-
ous crisises of his life ; and the endless realities of the eternal
state. What created intellect could fully comprehend, or rightly
describe, all these? God knoweth them all. We hardly ever
112 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
even think of them, and yet our whole Hfe is spent in influencing'
and being influenced by such wonderful beings. Verily this is a
fearful and a wonderful thing.
About sunset tbe ship was very nearly becalmed ; her motion
was barely perceptible ; and I was leaning over the gangway,
looking down at the little bubbles on the deep blue sea. Wiiile
thus engaged, my attention was arrested by a number of little in-
sects, no longer than the gnat you sometimes see sporting in the
evening air. They moved about over the calm surface of the
water witJi great rapidity, just as the little water-bugs and spiders
play about in the eddy of a brook in summer. Where do these
little creatures come from? w^iither do they go? where shelter
themselves when storms arise? Or are they like ourselves, mere
creatures of a day, floating about on the fathomless ocean of
eternity, one moment sportive and busy, and cherishing great
hopes, the next swallowed up by the dark waters, and seen no
more ?*
It was a lovely night, calm and clear, a few clouds in the sky ;
but the moon shone down brightly, and the large stars beamed
out, like a queen in her royal robes with her maids of honor around
her. Underneath was the boundless sea, quiet and smooth — " a
great still mirror-sea." and the moonbeams and starlight were re-
flected back from the surface of the water. But how different the
direct and the reflected light ! The one came down and gave a
clear image of the heavenly bodies ; thus we see the glory of God
in the face of Jesus Christ. But the other was distorted and bro-
ken by the constant swell of even that calm sea ; so it is with all
our views of things in the invisible heavens. If our faith can only
gaze steadfastly thereon, our hearts will burn within us ; but the
moment we turn our sight to earthly things our vision becomes
confused, and we see no more clearly ; at best it is but " through
a glass darkly." I could hardly think of going to bed ; again and
agam as I turned off to retire, a new appearance of beauty or a
brightly shining star arrested my attention, and kept me under
the open sky. Once the moon was slightly obscured by a white
cloud, that passed like a veil over her face ; but that only made
her more beautiful, for immediately a triple circle was formed
around her, of white, bright orange, and pale green.
Saturday, April 23d. Raining almost all the night. Towards
four o'clock this morning I awoke ; it was pouring down heavy.
Several very loud claps of thunder, that came roaring and reverbera-
ting over the waters, reminded me of the words of the Psalmist :
" The voice of the Lord is upon the waters :
The God of o-lory thundereth ;
The Lord is upon many waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful ;
The voice of the Lord is full of majesty."
* " Light mortal, how you walk your light life minuet, over bottomless abysses, di-
vided from you by a film." — Carlyle.
JOURNAL AT SEA. 113
About half-past eight, a. m.. just after breakfast, the captain
shouted, " Land O !" and Clnistnias Island was in sight. We
were about twenty miles off, and have not at any time to-day been
near enough to see it very closely. Its form is very well defined
against the sky; looks steep, and very long. About an hour after
seeing the island, Bennet called to me, " Mr. Lowrie, just come
and see how sweet the island smells." I went out, and, sure
enough, there was a very perceptible odor, somewhat, though not
very much, like what one perceives in a large pine forest, though
I think rather sweeter. However, I felt rather incredulous, for,
though the breez:e was blowing pretty fast off the island, yet we
were nearly twenty miles off, and I could hardly believe it possi-
ble. So I went and examined the rails of the ship, to see that no
mixture had been put there to create the deception. It is said
that persons going to Ceylon are often deceived in this way, by
having oil of cinnamon sprinkled on the ship's side. Hovv-ever,
there was no mistake. The odor evidently came from the cocoa-
nut trees on the island, and I stood and snulled it for a while with
great satisfaction. The island is in Lat. 10° 32' S., and Long.
10.5° 33' E., according to some of the Geograpliers, and about nine
miles square, uninhabited, save by the birds, and some wild hogs,
and having no anchorage. It is about two hundred and ten miles
from Java Head, and two hundred and sixty or two hundred and
eighty from Angier, at which latter place we shall not probably
arrive for two or three days yet. I feel strongly inclined, if I can
get an opportunity, to go from Angier direct to Singapore. If 1
go to China, it will take most probably three months from the
present time to get to Singapore. Indeed, the captain thinks I
cannot get to Singapore imtil October, owing to the Monsoon,
which will be directly against me.
I am in a good deal of uncertainty what to do. My instructions
are to go to China : but it will never do to wait there until Octo-
ber, or even the end of August. This is one of the cases in which
two are better than one.
About sunset the island bore away off to the west, and we lost
sight of it. Several boobies alighted on the ship, one on the end
of the flying jib-boom, another on the mizzen-royal-yard, and
another, more bold, sat down on the railing at the stern. The
first one was caught, at which inhospitable treatment he showed
great wrath, and bit one of the boys on the leg, uttering some very
singular cries, which I know not how to describe to you. They
were somewhat like the creaking of a chest lid, that had not been
opened for a long time, though not so sharp. He afforded great
amusement to the boys, particularly Chun Sing, who, in the
height of his glee, came to the cabin door, and called out, '-Do you
want any boobies here ?'' This one was black above, and white
beneatli ; some are all white. He measured four feet nine inches
from tip to tip of wing, and I suppose about fifleen or eighteen
inches from bill to tail. Each wing was more than two feet long.
114 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
If the next clay had not been the Sabbath, I should have asked
them to keep him, that we might examine him more closely.
They soon let him go.
Sabbath, April 24th. A most delightful day, perfectly charming,
except that we were almost becalmed. An English ship and a
Dutch brig were close at hand all day. Preached on Matt, xi
28-30 ; " Come unto me, all that labor and are heavy-laden," &c.,
with more fluency and satisfaction, and with an attentive audi-
ence. It has been to me one of the pleasantest days I have yet
spent, for though wearied and heavy-laden, with a body of flesh
and a sinful heart, I have " found rest to my soul."
Tuesday, April 26th. Heavy showers, with thunder and light-
ning, both yesterday morning and this ; three ships in sight all the
time ; making tolerable progress ; saw an immense number of
boobies yesterday, and several kinds of fish. Several of the boo-
bies, great boobies they were, came to the ship for a night's lodg-
ing, whereupon three of them were seized and put into a vacant
hen-coop to pass the night. We had them out on deck this morn-
ing, but they could hardly walk, and could not raise themselves
from the deck, their legs being very weak, owing to want of exer-
cise. They have two joints in their wings, besides the joint that
connects the wing to the body. An albatross is said to have sev-
eral joints in each wing. They are of two colors, dark brotvn,
and while, with black pointed wings ; probably the colors respect-
ively of the male and female. The white ones have purple bills,
straight, and about two inches long. They were very fierce,
snapped at everything and everybody, and took hold of my hat
quite viciously when I held it out to them. We let them go again
without farther injury. One of them by some accident had lost a
leg ; but this, I suppose, with their habits, is not so serious an in-
jury as it would be to many other birds. Several large dragon-
flies were flying about the ship to-day, though we must have been
forty miles from land when we first saw them. Caught a dolphin
to-day, but I did not see him when dying, and if I had, you have
heard enough of the colors.
We have been expecting to see land all day, as we cannot be
far from Java Head, which, in clear weather is visible fifty miles ;
but the horizon has been hazy all day, and not seeing land before
dark, we have been obliged to take in sail, and may have to heave
to before morning. It is interesting to see how every one has been
"looking out" all day : men up at the mast-head every half-hour;
captain with his spy-glass ; cook looking over the side ; Chun
Sing sitting on the rail ; and passengers and men looking earnestly
to the north-east ; but our eyes have failed with looking to-day.
We hope to be in the Straits of Sunda by daylight.
Wednesday, 27th. Sat up till about eleven, and just as I was going
to bed. heard " Land O !" However it was far off, and as there
was little prospect of entering the straits before morning, I went
to bed, but could not sleep. About twelve o'clock, heard the cap-
JOURNAL AT SEA. 115
tain sing out, " Loose the main-royal," " get out the foie-topmast-
stadding-sail." I could not tell what to make of this, for at dark
he had taken in sail, and said he would take in more. Accord-
ingly I jumped up and went out, and there sure enough was the
high land of Palambang Point right ahead, and a noble breeze
carrying us right on. The captain said we should enter the straits
between two and three o'clock, so I went to take a nap before that
time. I was amused at Chun Sing ; he was up, as bright as a lark,
sitting on the forecastle, and looking eagerly at the land ; no doubt,
as he said, very glad to be so near home. At half-past two the
captain called me, and going out, I found we were just coming in
at the north of the strait, between Java and Prince's Island. Mr.
K. and Mr. B. were out, and the ladies soon came also. The land
was about a mile and a quarter off, and we could snuff the fresh
breeze as it came off from the land, and hear the deep, constant,
steady, heavy swell and roar of the breakers, sounding like the
rushing of Niagara. The ladies declared that the scent of the
trees was like the smell of honeysuckles or clover. The cook was
up and got a cup of strong coffee for each of us, and all were in high
spirits. The captain said it was " first-rate," not the coffee, but
our success. A ship that was a little ahead of us last night, was
fairly in the straits, while one that had been about two miles
astern at sunset, was now clear out of sight, and we were boasting
of having " run away from her ;" but alas, what a disappointment
did we meet ! Just as we came along by Java Head, which is
very high, the wind came out ahead, and we had to cross Prince's
Strait, nearl}"" to Prince's Island, where we were almost becalmed.
Meanwhile the ship astern came rapidly up with a first-rate breeze,
came in close along the Java shore, and while we were tacking to
cross the strait again, (Prince's Strait is only about four miles wide,)
she passed us within half a mile, with a fair wind, and stood off
gallantly up the strait, while we, being under the high bluff of
Java Head, could do nothing. At six o'clock she was ten miles
ahead, while we were farther out to sea than we had been at three
o'clock. The wind was before and behind us, but we were almost
becalmed.
Meanwhile two ships appeared astern, evidently coming up
rapidly ; about half-past eight o'clock they showed their colors,
one English, the other Dutch ; both men-of-war. They were about
one fourth of a mile off, when suddenly falling under Java Head,
the wind failed them and their sails hung idly at the mast. We
had slowly drawn on, and coming opposite New Island, where the
land on Java is lower, a delightful breeze sprung up, and we walked
away in fine style. They looked at us for awhile, and then catch-
ing the breeze, followed on astern. In the course of an hour the
English brig caught up and fairly beat us. However, she had
very large sails, much larger in proportion to her size than we, but
she was a very rusty-looking thing, and as to her men, they were
BO dirty, our second mate said that if he were there he would jump
116 MEMOIR OF ^yALTEIl M. LOWRIE.
overboard ! They certainly were not to be compared to our men
in point of neatness. The Dutchman sailed well, but could not
overtake us ; so up the straits we sailed in noble style for four
hours, saiUn<];- within two miles of the Java shore, and seeing the
high peaks of Prince's Island, Crockatoa, (which the sailors call
Cockatoo,) and Pulo Bessy. The peaks of Crockatoa and Bessy
are very high mountains, burnt out volcanoes, cloud capt and
magnificent ; while far beyond in the same direction was tlie
high land of Rajat Bassa, on the island of Sumatra. On the
Java side were the Karang mountains, their tops covered all the
day with clouds. About one o'clock p. m. we came up opposite
Third point and found that the three ships, which had got the
start of us, were quite becalmed, in the middle of the strait, while
we, in near the Java shore, were proceeding at a rapid rate.
At dinner lime we were congratulating ourselves on having
beaten those who had that morning stolen such a march on
us, when all at once the sails hung idly at the mast. The
captain and mate jumped up and ran out, and soon came in,
looking rather blank, with the news that we too were becalmed.
There we lay for four hours, the sim beating down, therm. 89^
in the shade, and far over 100° in the sun, and not a breath
of air to speak of. Busied )nyself preparing my letters. A but-
terfly, a wasp, and a bee paid us a visit ; and I often looked
out to the high shores and receding vales of Java, which reminds
me strongly of my own native land, and tlie eastern shores of the
Hudson. When I first saw land last night and thought '• the
heathen live there," my mind was filled with thoughts that made
me seek to be by myself, rather than with our lively and laughing
company.
Being quite becalmed off Third Point Ave were fain to wait till
the wind should rise again. There were three ships there before
us. The Dutchman soon joined company. A large ship soon
came up the straits afterwards, with sky-sails and studding-sails,
and made a brave show, but as soon as she came within the
charmed circle, her sails clung to the masts and she was still.
We could see her name, she stopped so near, the Oneida of
New Bedford — which was to leave New York the day after we
did, and we suppose left the same morning. We sailed from the
little bay inside of Sandy Hook. Another ship then appeared close
under Crockatoa Island. Two more soon came in sight, having
entered the straits by the main channel ; and about four o'clock
three others hove in sight. So we made twelve ships, barks, and
brigs, all becalmed within ten miles of each other. It was a beau-
tiful sight. The English brig was so near that we could hear the
boatswain's whistle, the bells and the noise of the men at the ropes.
She was nearest Java shore, and we next. About half-past four
a light breeze sprung up ; she took it first and sailed off like a bird ;
we next, but it failed us in five minutes, and we came nearer than
before. Again it came ; she was still nearest the shore, and got
JOURNAL AT SEA. 117
off first. We soon followed, and are now moving off five or six
miles ail hour. The others gradually took the breeze and followed
on as they could ; but the brig and the Huntress are ahead. There
are nearly a dozen native prows in sight. The brig soon began
to make signals to a large ship off on the other side of the strait :
" talked bunting/' as they say. We, of course, could not under-
stand them.
Altogether it has been an exciting and interesting day. The
sight of inhabited land, and those inhabitants being heathen ; the
effort to enter the straits, and failure ; the mortification of seeing"
others pass us with a fair breeze, while we, not half a mile off, were
becalmed ; then the pleasure of catciiing up and passing again ;
the sight of so many ships, and of the native prows ; the smell of
land ; (he sight of noble mountains ; the preparing of letters for
home; and the lifting up of the heart in gratitude to God, that
through so many dangers, and along so lengthened a course, he
has led us and fed us, — surely here will I raise an Ebenezer, for
hitherto the Lord hath helped mc. And then to tliink, that i:i
precisely one year from the day I was first licensed to preach the
gospel, I was permitted to see the land of nations sitting in dark-
ness, to some of whom at least I hope (o preach the gospel ! Is it
not a day much to be remembered ! The host of the enemies are
numerous and powerful, but I may well use the words of King
Asa and say, " Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with
many or with tliem that have no power ; help us, oh Lord our
God ; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this
multitude. Oh, Lord, thou art our God ; let not man prevail
against thee."
But if the day had so many things to be remembered, the even-
ing was still more magnificent. About sunset, we were about
two miles from shore, directly off from the Karang mountains.
We were gliding swiftly over the smooth waters ; nine other ships
of different nations, English, American, and Dutch, were in sight
on the western side, and six of them in full view. On the other
side, a dozen Malay prows were hugging the shore. Some shoals
were to be passed over, which required close watching : dark and
thick clouds, many and large, were overhead, but most of them
tinged of the deepest orange and red b}^ the sun's rays ; high
mountains, five or six in number, loomed up in various directions,
and aljove the highest, Crockatoa, was the darkest mass of clouds;
but beyond all these was the evening star, "mildly beaming on
the forehead" of the calm blue sky, diversified and enriched as it
was with the glorious sunset tints. I looked and gazed with
almost speechless, certainly with an unutterable admiration ; and
as the bright colors faded, the ardor of my thoughts subsided to a
quiet comparison of the varied scene before me, with what may
perliaps be the course of my future life. What is before, I knev/
not ; but I thought that a swift, though perhaps a long voyage
over the uncertain sea of life, was before me ; that I should have
118 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
fellow-laborers, perhaps of different nations, striving together to
benefit the poor lieatheu whose representatives we here saw on
the same sea with ourselves ; that secret dangers might be in my
way, which it would require prudence and care to avoid ; that
many sorrows are impending over me, but they shall be tinged
and beautified with the favor of God ; and thus the
" VlJloiids I so much dread,
Are big with mercies, and shall break
In blessings on my head ;"
that difficulties are before me like mountains, and over the great-
est and the least of tliem, it may be, the most impenetrable dark-
ness now overhangs ; but that above them all, shines brightly the
star of hope ; and, having at last surmounted them all, the peace-
ful and glorious rest of heaven will open upon my delighted view.
However I may be mistaken in some of these anticipations, I trust
and pray that the last may prove true.
After dark my attention was called to the many fires kindled
along the coast, probably by the natives, catching fish. They
looked very cheerfully, after having been for so long without see-
ing any traces of human beings, except those in our own little
vessel.
Thursday morning. Up and out early. Towards nine, p. m.,
on Wednesday, were rather getting behind the other ships ; and
the wind being very light, and indeed a cahn, most of the night,
we made very little progress ; by daylight, however, we were
ahead of almost all the other ships. Their number had now in-
creased to seventeen, fourteen of which were in full view from
ours, at one time, on one side. The wind being light and con-
trary, we were obHged to tack frequently, and thus often passed
near them. About eight o'clock, a. m., the Oneida passed near
us ; her captain told us he had sailed January 26th. This made
us start ; caught up with us, wlio bad a week's advantage of them !
We did not like the Huntress near so well for that.
About half-past eleven in the morning, we anchored, nearly a
mile above Angier. We had almost been run into by the Eng-
lish brig, which had from the first behaved in a very rude and un-
gentlemanly manner, and now tried very hard to go ahead of us,
when there was no necessity for her doing so, as the course she
was taking would have led her some distance under our stern. I
fully expected she would come against us, and our captain calleil
his men to haul down the spanker, lest her flying jib-boom should
get entangled in it. However, she fell astern, greatly to the rage
of her commander, who came to the bow of the brig, and in a voice
indicative of extreme anger, read our captain a lecture on seaman-
ship and politeness, saying: "It was your duty to have done so
and so. If we had both been merchantmen ; but, sir, this is a
man-of-war.'''' Captain Lovett answered with great moderation ;
though I could almost have wished that he had " answered the
JOURNAL AT SEA. 119
fool according to his folly." We could not have gone under his
stern without squaring our yards, and he, if he had held on his
course, would not have come within three ships' lengths of us. In
his eagerness to get ahead of us, he came so "near the wind," as
to be almost " taken aback."
By the time we anchored, there were half a dozen Malay boats
around us, bringing vegetables, fruit, shells, birds, monkeys, squir-
rels, mats, &c., to sell or barter. They could commonly speak only
a few words of English, and talked partly by signs. Some had
nothing but a strip of cloth around the loins ; others had calico
trowsers ; some had round jackets, &c. The darkness of their
skins, however, prevented their being so naked from appearing as
disagreeable as I had expected. One old man came aboard with
a boat well filled with pumpkins, yams, &c., and, coming up the
side, he asked, "Where be this ship from?" "America." "From
'Meriky ! and what you captain's name?" " Lovett." " Oh ! Cap-
tain Lovett ; I am glad of that, where is he ?" He ran up to him
and held out his hand. " Why, Pond-jein, is that you ? You are
just the man I wanted," said the captain. It was the old Malay
from whom he usually obtained his provisions. He soon gave him
an order for a number of articles, for tlie names and prices of which
see below.
In the afternoon, we all (passengers) went ashore. Went first
to the governor's house, which is a fine large building, very open
and airy, and in full sight of the straits. The governor was ab-
sent, but had a young Frenchman there as clerk. Here was a fix;
Captain L. could not speak French, and the clerk could not speak
English. I could make him understand me, but having almost
forgotten the sound of French, and never having heard it spoken,
I could hardly inake out what he said. However, we managed
to get our business accomplished. He was very polite, had tea for
the ladies, and seemed desirous of accommodating us. Handed us
into the sitting-room, which was open, cool and pleasant. As we
were going in we met the captain of an English ship just from
China, who had just anchored, and who gave us a good deal of
information respecting China, Hong Kong, &c., and, greatly to
Mrs. G.'s delight, gave her some information about her husband,
whom he knew by sight, though not acquainted with him.
Walked out with my umbrella; saw some men catching fish
with a long net, but they caught only about two gallons full of them,
and all very small, none, I suppose, more than an inch and a half
long, shaped mostly like sun fish, and colored like silver fish ; I
should suppose that they are very delicate eating. There were a
large number of children playing on the beach, either entirely or
nearly naked, and all bareheaded and barefooted ; their greatest
amusement seemed to consist in pursuing and catching a small
crab, that ran with exceeding swiftness and burrowed in holes in
the sand. I was surprised to see how very quick it could run —
much faster than they could. When they had chased one to its
120 MEMOIR OP WALTER M. LOWRIE.
hole, they would sit down and tiy to dig it out, if the hole Avas not
too deep. I !>eg"an to pick up some small shells on the beach, and
among' the stones at the water's edge, and half a dozen of them
gathered round me, and began talking, and asking me questions.
jSome of them were quite good looking, and had very beautiful
teeth ; but they will soon spoil them by chewing betel nut, as all
the grown-up people, men and women, do here, at least among
the Malays ; I did not observe whether the Chinese use it or not.
I did not understand a word they said ; but they were evidently
in groat spirits, and very good natured; so I talked away to them,
asking questions, and making remarks, and laughing and talking
with as great glee as any of them. They helped me to pick shells,
crying out "Gubboosh !" "Yes!" " Karang !" ttc. I felt almost
sorry to part with them, and having nothing else to give them as
a reward for their services, I took out my pin-cushion, and gave
them a pin a piece. They were quite eager to get them, and
stood round me in a half-circle, holding up their Utile hands and
chattering away. They waited very patiently, each till his own
turn came, and followed me some little distance afterwards, till I
turned and waved m}^ hand — and then ofTthey went.
I then rejoined our company and we took a long walk, through
a large grove of cocoa-nut tress, then to Poiid-jein's house. It
is one story high, of bamboo, and has a good many apart-
ments. He showed us his bed-room, where there was a bed wide
enough for the whole family, neatly ornamented with tinsel, &c. ;
gave us refreshments of tolerably good Java coffee, with sugar,
but no milk, fresh cocoa-nut milk, plantains, guavas, sweetmeats,
&c. Thence we went to the reservoir from which water is ob-
tained for the ships, and just back of which is a monument to
Lord Cathcart, who died here in 1787. Everything was novel —
trees, flowers, people, and all.
The place has a good many inhabitants, but I had no means
of learning how many. Pond-jein said, in answer to my in-
quiries, " Oh, plenty people here." Saw a woman weaving, and
quite a crowd of children followed us as we went around.
We met a poor leprous girl, as we went along ; the palm of
her hand was quite white, her feet were wrapped up in cloths,
and she seemed to walk with difficulty. Her body was much
wasted away, and her face expressed a good deal of pain.
Cominof back to the village, a Chinese came out of a house and
spoke to Mr. K. by name. He had known him in Canton ; and
having by some means incurred the displeasure of the higher
powers there, he had fled here for safety. Going on further, we
came to a China-man's shop, and looking in, the first thing I saw was
a wooden clock, and the portrait of Martin Van Buren on its face !
Attracted by such an unexpected sight, in these ends of the world,
we went in. The China-man was very polite. Eager to sell,
very complaisant, in fact, a con.plete man of the world, smooth
JOURNAL AT SEA. 121
and oil3^-tong'aecI. He had a very miscellaneous collection, though
not large, and asked us what we would have ; said he had some
very fine Holland gin, and seemed surprised that we did not fancy
it. He had Jews' harps, lead pencils, jack-knives, brass tacks,
calicoes, shoes from Lowell, several wooden clocks, got them from
awhaler, and sold them for ten dollars a-piece, which I think was
quite reasonable — ^if they were worth anything at all.
Going out of his shop, I saw a red piece of paper with Chinese
characters, pasted against one of the posts, and a little piece of
bamboo underneath, with several half burnt .Tosh-sticks in it. I
asked him what that was? "Oh, that is the great Josh; we
burn (hem twice a month, all the same as they do in America."
I told him we did not do so in America, at which he was greatly
surprised.
Then we came back to the ship about seven p. m., and in the
evening talked over all we had seen, and sat up to finish our let-
ters for home.
Friday morning. The captain said he would go ashore for the
last time, and be ofT as soon as possible; so w^e gentlemen got
ready and went ashore, but it was very warm, and I did not care
about walking much. Our party went to visit the fort. I took
a short stroll on tlie beach, but soon came back and sat down at
the landing place, under the shade of a noble banian tree, where
there was a delightful breeze from the water. There was a lad-
der reaching up nearly to the top of the tree, which I climbed,
and found a little hut away up in the heart of the tree, and a
Malay stationed there to make signals for ships in the straits.
Q^uite a crowd of Malays were standing and sitting round the
tree, chewing betel, and chattering away, but doing nothing in
the world. They seem like a very do-nothing sort of a people ;
are not nearly so thrifty nor neat in their persons, dress, houses,
&.C., as the Chinese who live among them. We saw a number
of Chinese houses in the place, though I could not say what pro-
portion.
On the whole the romance of yesterday's visit wore off very
much to-day, and! was quite glad to leave them, and depart. The
place is said to be unhealthy, from the marshes just back of the
village. Tlie Malays are Mohammedans. 1 observed tbat those
who came on board would not eat meat, for fear it should be pork,
though they were very glad to get ship's bread. They appear
principally to live on fowls and vegetables. I saw a few bulFaloes,
wliich seemed very fond of being in the water, and also some
dogs that looked a little like small greyhounds, some goats, and
a few rather long narrow-eared sheep, which had thrown off their
woollen coats and wore hair, the climate being too warm for
woollen stulfs.
We had the anchor up about two o'clock, and drifted on our
course with the tide ; but the wind being light, made slow progress.
122 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Here is Pond-jein's bill, which may not be uninteresting to you,
both for the articles and the groceries :
15 piculs* ofyamsat $1.25 . . . $18.75
1 picul of sweet potatoes at $1 . . . 1.00
12 bunchesf plantains .... 3.00
100 cocoa-nuts green, 25 do. hard . . . 2.00
200 bundles paddy, (rice in the hull) . . 16.00
200 " grassj; .... 8.00
200 eggs ...... 2.00
8 dozen chickens ..... 8.00
4 " ducks ..... 8.00
1 " capons ..... 3.00
100 pumpkinsj ..... 4.00
10 turtles ..... 6.50
4 bundles onions ..... 1.00
$80.25
The turtles would bring ten times that price in New York.
Sabbath morning, May 1st. When I went out before breakfast,
we were away out in the Java Sea, and the only land insight was
the high peaks of Rajah Bassa, which must have been seventy
miles off. Dining the day, saw a ship to the eastward that looked
very much like the Oneida. A pleasant breeze all day, and toler-
ably good progress ; out of sight of land all day. Sea about thir-
teen fathoms deep; it varies from eight to thirty fathoms, all the
way from Java to the island of Banou ; is generally about eleven
to fifteen fathoms.
Preached on Luke xxiii. 33 ; '• Tliere they crucified him."
On the death of Jesus Christ. Was favored with great fluency
and good attention. In the afternoon, one of the men came and
asked me to lend him a Greek Testament. He said he could read
it. I was just preparing for my Bible class, and could not talk with
him about it then. I got it for him, and he took it off to the fore-
castle, and seemed to be reading it very busily for some time. In
a day or two afterwards, he came back with a translation he had
made from the Greek to Latin, of Matt. ii. 1-12, which was very
well done. He had been at some German schools and universi-
ties, and understands more languages than any one on board;
Greek, Latin, English, French, Danish, German ; yet he is not
more than twenty-two years old.
We had quite a squall dming the night; thunder and lightning,
and a strong breeze. Lightning is seen off the coast of Sumatra
very frequently.
Monday, May 2d. Land in sight about seven, a. m., a peak in
the isle of Banca. During the day we drew up to. and about
noon or a little after entered, the Macclesfield passage of Gaspar
* A Picul is 133} pounds.
t About 100 ])lantaiiis in eacli bunch, which would sell for one or two shillings a
piece at New York.
:(: The bundles of hay weiglied perhaps three pounds each.
'^ The pumpkins are small. l)ut very good and sweet.
JOURNAL AT SEA.
123
Straits, which lead from the Java to the Chinese sea. There are
a great many shoals and rocks in these straits, and we found it
necessary to watch very closely in passing them. However, we
had a fair, though light wind, smooth sea, and clear weather ; and
about four, p. m., were off the northern part of Pulo Leat, and not
more than two miles from it, so that we could distinctly see the
shore, rocks and trees. About six, p. m., a pleasant little breeze
blew us a most pleasant scent, from Pulo Lepa, and Pulo Leat.
The shores, however, of these islands, could not be compared with
the scenery of Java in the Straits of Sunda.
Tuesday, May 3d. When I went out this morning, Gaspar
Island was away astern of us ; it was the only land in sight. We
soon lost sight of that, and were out in the open China Sea.
Friday, May 6th. Wednesday was a iiot day. Thermometer,
89° in the shade in the upper cabin, and about 87° in the lower.
How the cook stands his occupation, I cannot conceive. The ther-
mometer rose to 135°, in fifteen minutes after I put it in the gal-
ley ! Thursday it was raining nearly all day, much to the embar-
rassment of the officers ; for by calculation we crossed the equator
about noon, and there were several islands and shoals near our
course ; but the weather was so thick, that scarcely anything
could be seen more than a mile or two off.
Saturday, May 7th. Fair weather when I went out this morn-
ing. West Island bore east of us about tea miles off, while away
ahead, one or two of the higher peaks of the Great Natuna Group
were just visible, though they must have been more than seventy
miles off. We are now (five, p. m.,) just abreast of the most
southern of them, and shall probably pass them all during the
night. They are quite mountamous, though we are passing at
such a distance as to be able to see but little. The Oneida beats
us in light winds, but loses when we have anything of a breeze.
You would be greatly amused to hear the officers and passengers
talking about her. We have seen her now every day for a week,
sometimes astern, sometimes ahead, sometimes abeam, or along-
side, some distance off. She makes more efforts to get on than
we ; can spread one or two more sails, and has been seen several
times wetting her sails.
Monday, May 9th. Preached on John xvi. 7, to an attentive
audience, though they were not so much interested, apparently,
as they were for two or three late days. It is hard at times to
repress unbelieving fears, or to avoid giving way to the suggestions
of the enemy, that " it is of no use to preach to such people."
Truly, it is like casting bread upon the waters. How many diffi-
culties of the same kind must I experience in China ! My heart
sinks within me at times, and then again I am encouraged. But,
so far, I have had no desire to go back, but constantly a willing-
ness to go forward and see what God would have me to do. Look-
ing over the account of Dr. Morrison, in the Chronicle, I could
hardly tell what to think. I cannot plod away as he did at a
124 MEMOIR OP WALTER M. LOWRIE.
language. How often do I think " it was a mistake to send me
here : they ought to have let me go to Africa !" Yet when I think
how remarkably Providence ordered my course in this matter, I
am constrained to lay my hand on my mouth, and Avait to see
what God is doing. One thing often occurs to me : I thought I
was peculiarly qualified to be a missionary to Africa ; I do not
think I am for China. If I had gone to Africa, I should have de-
pended on my qualifications too much, and not on God : — going to
China, I have no resources, and He blesses those who feel their
need of His assistance. " My grace is sufficient for thee ; for my
strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will
I rather glory in mine infirmities, that the power of Christ may
rest upon me." Amen.
Just before retiring last night (about ten, p. m.,) I was walking
on deck. There was no moon, but some stars were shining
brightly among the scattered clouds. All at once a light as of the
moon emerging from clouds, when she is half full, lightened up
the ship. I started, and, looking out to the west, saw a very large
and splendid meteor, of a pale bluish color, shooting down from
the Sickle in Leo-Major. I could hardl}^ see its shape, as it ini-
medialeiy disappeared. Three others, though very small, soon
followed in tlie same place. Large meteors are often seen in this
sea, but they appear commonly about midnight.
Wednesday, May 11th. From twelve o'clock Monday to twelve
o'clock to-day, we have made fourteen miles in latitude, and none
in longitude ! It has been a dead calm two-thirds of the lime,
and, with the exception of two short squalls, very light winds all
the rest, and in addition, a strong current against us. Rather
slow going. Yesterday the ship would not steer, there being no
wind, but turned round, head to the south, and she could not be
got round again. However, we are doing rather better to-day ;
in fact, yesterday we lost a mile on the whole, so that to-day we
have made it fifteen.
An immense number of small round animals were seen floating
and swimming on and near the surface of the water in the after-
noon. There must have been millions of them. We caught half
a dozen of them, and found them to be of a jelly-like substance,
in the shape of a bucket, or short thimble. They were of a brown
color, and had in the centre of the cavity an organization very
much like the stamens and pistils of flowers. They looked very
nuich like the central part of the passion-flower; smelt like oys-
ters, and moved by alternately contracting and enlarging the
upper rim of their bodies ; out of the water they appeared like a
mere lump of jelly. I'll try to preserve one or two of them for
you, but fear I cannot do it. They are evidently alive, and some
of them are quite lively.
We hope to be at the end of our voyage in two weeks, and you
will perhaps think I must be very glad of it. I can hardly say,
however, that I am. For a few days after leaving Angler I did
JOURNAL AT SEA. 125
wish pretty heartily that we were safely moored ; but now I feel
almost sorry to think of ending' the voyage so soon. Having been
now nearly four months at sea, I feel quite at home ; and I know,
on arriving in China, I shall then again be a stranger, with re-
sponsible duties to perform, and no fellow-laborer to counsel with
in regard to them. My faith and hopes fluctuate considerably in
regard to the future. When 1 cast my cares upon the Lord, I can
vi^ait with calmness and peace, knowing that he will bring it to
pass ; but too often I suffer my mind to dwell upon the future,
without reflecting that my strength is all from on high, and the
consequence almost invariably is, that I am disJieartened by the
prospect. When shall I learn to live by faith, and not by sight?
1 am sad, and almost sick at heart, to-night, for I have been think-
ing of difficulties, and of myself. But that it would be wrong, I
could wish, " Oh, that I had wings like a dove, for then would I
fly away, and be at rest."
Monday, May 16th. Preached yesterday on Luke xviii. 19, to a
very attentive audience. I have rarely seen in America a more
attentive and well-behaved congregation, than our sailors here.
Yet the truths they hear from me are as plain and evangelical,
and as much calculated to bring down one's high thoughts of
himself, as I know how to make them. I believe they sometimes
think I preach hard doctrines, yet they are very respectful. Yes-
terday there was hardly an eye turned from me for the whole
time, though I was not conscious of being more than usually in-
teresting or fervent. But, alas ! " who hath believed our report,
and to whom is tiie arm of the Lord revealed ?" " They came
before me as the Lord's people come ; they hearkened to my
words, but their heart goetii after idols." How can anyone think
that almighty power is not necessary to change the hearts of men ?
How can any one take credit to himself, if success attend his ef-
forts ? I lent my " Hol}^ War" to the sailmaker the other day.
He was greatly pleased with it, and was telling me last night how
much he liked it. I asked him if he understood it all. "Oh, yes
sir ! it's very plain ; and if it were not, I could understand it, by
overhauling my Bible a little." He seems to be a good man, and
I am always sure of having at least one attentive hearer on the
Sabbath. I believe he never takes his eyes .off" me while I am
preaching.
Friday, May 20th. A fine breeze for two days past has carried
us on finely, and if it holds out, we shall probably be at our "de-
sired haven" in a week. Consequently, all are in fine spirits, and
it is quite anmsing to see how eager every one is to hear the lati-
tude. For my own part, I cannot say I am anxious either way.
The responsibility of my station, and of the steps I may take at
Macao, sometimes weighs me down a good deal ; and, like Jere-
miah, I say, " Ah, Lord God ! I cannot speak; for I am a child."
With a very slight change, I find Solomon's prayer very appropri-
ate for myself. " Oh Lord God ! thou hast made me a messenger
126 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
to a people like the dust of the earth for multitude ; give me now
wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this
people: for who can instruct this people that is so great?" But
the promises to Moses, and Joshua, and Jeremiah, and Paul, have
sustained me, and the recollection of the providence of God in times
past, cheers me, and I am going forward. A great work is before
me, and its greatness appals me at times ; but the reflection of the
pendulum, " I have to tick so many thousand times, that I cannot
count them all, but then I have a moment for every tick," encour-
ages me again.
I have been reading over my instructions, and I candidly con-
fess I would rather take the responsibility of selecting a mission
station in the first instance, than perform the part now assigned
to me. The facts which I learned from the captain of the Bombay
Castle, make it very probable that we ought to have a station at
Hong Kong. If the question were simply the selection of a sta-
tion, that would not be so difficult ; but the question is, " Shall we
give up, or keep one station already occupied, and select another?"
and that is not so easy. But, " He giveth wisdom."
Monday, May 23d. Preached yesterday what I suppose is my
last sermon on ship-board, from 1 Cor. i. 23, 24, with as much
fluency and feeling, and as good attention as at any time yet.
The seed is sown : how or when it shall spring up, or what shall
be the final results, I know not. Sometimes T hope it may spring
up and produce much fruit; but I never think so, when I recollect
the imworthiness of the instrument by whom it was dispensed.
On Saturday evening, the sailmaker brought my " Holy War."
"That's a very good book, Mr. Lowrie ; have you got any more
like it?" So I took out " PoUok's Tales of the Covenanters,"
and lent it to him. In twenty-four hours he had read all three of
the tales, and brought it back to me. " Oh, Mr. Lowrie, what a
good book this is ! That last story (Ralph Gemmel) makes the
tears come into a fellow's eyes." I had a good deal of talk with
him afterwards, and think that he gives good evidence of piety.
He began to be serious on the last voyage, but says he thinks a
great deal more about religion now than he ever did before. " Oh
how much pleasure I sometimes find now in prayer !" He talked
a great deal about Bunyan's Holy War, Avhich he evidently un-
derstood very well. "That Diabolus was a notorious villain.
But wasn't it sweet when Immanuel caught him and bound him,
and then turned him ofli"?"
W"e shall most probably go into China the day after to-morrow.
Our passengers (Mr. K. excepted, who is an old hand at it) have
been quite anxious to get to China, and longing for sometime past
to get there ; but I believe they hardly know now whether they
want to get there or not. It seems like going away from home,
to leave the little narrow space where, for one-third of a year, we
have spent our time. It is going away from familiar faces and
employments, to a land of strangers and of unknown duties.
JOURNAL AT SEA. 127
Tuesday, May 24th. Had our last Bible class, probably, ibis
morning. I have been writing up various things ; among otlicrs,
a preface to my journal.
Thursday, May 26th. Yesterday was a pretty gloomy day.
We had gone on so finely during the night, that we expected to
have been at Macao by noon. About six o'clock, however, a. m.,
the wind increased to a gale ; had to double-reef the topsails.
There was a heavy sea, and the ship groaned, and rolled, and
pitched after the fashion of the Cape of Good Hope. We had had
so much fine weather, and so smooth a sea for six weeks before,
that the change took us all aback, and all the passengers were
quite sea-sick. About eight o'clock, a. m., yesterday, we saw land
ahead, probably the great Ladrone Island, a few miles south of
Macao; but just then the gale came out dead ahead, and we
had to put back to sea. Two or three otiier ships, that were nearer
in than we, had to do the same. Wore siiip, and stood in for land
again at noon : saw it very distinctly about four, p. m.; but the
wind being still ahead, had to put off to sea again, and soon lost
sight of it. We are now trying again to go in, but the wind is
unfavorable. It may be several days yet before we can get in,
though we are not probably six hours' fair sailing from Macao.
" The worst coast," says the captain, " in the world ; nobody
knows when we v/iil get in, and yet, I dare say, the gale does not
extend fifty miles." 1 could not help thinking how often we see
such things in common life. Just as we are on the point of ac-
quiring what we long labor and hope for, we are disappointed, and
again made to urge on our rough and stormy course. What a
blessed place heaven will be, where " there is no more sea .'" no
more storuis ; no more wearisome calms ; no treacherous shoals ;
no disappointments. It is the haven of eternal rest, and doubly
sweet, because entered " through much tribulation."
ChiJia Sea, May 26th, 1842.
My Dear Mother —
So here it is, the long promised, and I flatter myself, the long
expected journal. Before you decide that it is too long, just ima-
gine yourself in my situation, with a charge to tell you all I do.
and see and hear, seeing and hearing a great many things new
and strange, or amusing; and having hardly any connection with
home, or home folks, except this journal. As long as I was .wri-
ting it, I seemed to be holding intercourse with you ; sometimes
sitting down for a long chat, sometimes running in to tell you a
little story, sometimes pointing out a splendid scene on the sky,
sometimes giving you a picture of social life on shipboard, — was it
any wonder that my pen sometimes loved to huger on the paper,
when it thus brought up before me so many tender, and so many
pleasant associations ? and when it caused me to think the oftener
128 MEMOIR OF "WALTER M. LOWRIE.
of one — yes, of many whom, though I love, I daie not expect to
see any more on earth ?
If you find it badly written in some places, you must consider,
that it was sometimes so damp, that my paper seemed to be almost
wet; and especially the ship often rolled so prodigiously, that in
my efforts to maintain my own position, I had enough to do with-
out minding whether I wrote backhand or slopehand, or whether
the strokes went perpendicularly or horizontall3^ I think, if you
had seen me sometimes, laying my writing desk in my berth,
bracing my foot against the sides of my room, and holding on
with one hand to the berth board, while I wrote with the other,
and after all getting knocked, now against the berth, and now
against the partition of my room, you would think I did pretty
well. This is no fanciful description, for such things happened to
me again and again, when off the Cape of Good Hope.
As to publication of extracts? No. I set my foot down there.
Keep it out of the way of that little omnivorous monster that
they keep in the Mission House — [the Missionary Chronicle.]
There is not a line of it that was written for publication, and very
fev/ lines in it that I think fit. for publication. They are mere un-
studied and unlabored accounts of what happened to myself, in a
voyage that contained few or no striking incidents. 1 have not
that squeamishness about the publication of letters and journals
tliat some missionaries have; but still I would rather not appear
ill print for several years yet. The less I am known for a while
■ — at least until it is known whether I am hkely to be of any use
in this part of the world — the better. If I should prove a worth-
less vessel, a useless laborer, there will be fewer disappointed in
me. I know that some would laugh at me for feeling such an
anticipation, but with me it is no laughing matter. My coming
to this part of the world is but an experiment. If it succeeds,
tliere will be time enough to become as prominent as is needful;
if it does not, it will be better by far, bolii for myself and the
Church, that as little be said about it, and as few expectations dis-
appointed as possible.
What iDore shall I say ? I might fill page after page with ex-
pressions of attachment and affection. I might say how often I
think of you all, and recall to mind the many, many proofs of
love, and tokens of kindly feelings, I have received from you. I
may say how nmch I woul^l delight to hear from you, and about
all that concerns you, especially those things that relate to the
spiritual welfare of each and every one of the family, and of other
dear friends. But why should I? You already know all this
nearly, if not quite as well, as I could tell you. When you think
of me, or speak of me, do not think or speak of me as if you
thought I were unhappy, or repented of the course I have taken.
1 may be sick, I may be in outward distress, I may be, I often am
dejected and despondent, but I never yet have regretted that I am
away from home, and never yet felt the wish, (however much I
JOURNAL AT SEA. 129
should like to see you all,) to leave the path I am now treading,
and turn my back upon the heathen. What may be my feelings
hereafter, I dare not presume to say. I may be " troubled on
every side ;" " perplexed," oftentimes ; " persecuted," it may be ;
" cast down," even. But I trust not to be " distressed," not to be
" forsaken," and far from being " destroyed ;" to come off at last
conqueror, and more than conqueror, through him ihat hath loved
me. With such a confidence, and with the hope of being sustained
by many influences from the land of my birth, more precious than
gold and silver, I may well rejoice ; yea, I do rejoice'.
Most affectionately yours,
W. M LOWRIE.
9
CHAPTER IV.
1842.
LANDING IN CHINA — VOYAGE IN THE SEA QUEEN — SHIPWRECK IN THE HARMONY
RETURN TO MACAO.
At the period included in this chapter, hostihties existed between
Great Britain and China, and the result of the contest, or even its
duration, could not be known. On reaching China, the new mis-
sionary was instructed to inquire particularly, in view of the state
of things then existing, into the practicability of establishing a
station at Hong Kong, or any point on the coast further north.
Having obtained this information, and joined his colleagues at
Singapore, they were authorized to decide the question of remov-
ing from Singapore, and concentrating the whole missionary force
in China. On landing, he found that the Rev. T. L. McBryde had
been at Macao for some months, having left Singapore in hopes
that a sea voyage would recruit his health.
Having made himself acquainted with the existing state of
things in China, Mr. Lowrie left Macao on the 18th of June ; and
after four months of unavailing efforts to reach Singapore, he re-
turned to Hong Kong on the 18th of October. The account of
these distressing voyages, and his perilous shipwreck, is fully given
in the following letters and journals. It is matter of regret that
one-half of his journal in the Sea Queen was some years ago
destroyed by fire, when the house of one of his relatives was
burned down. The loss cannot be supplied, as no copy of this
impressive journal was taken.
Daring the time of these disastrous voyages, the providence of
God had made the question plain, on which the missionaries were
seeking for light. The war between Great Britain and China had
been terminated by a treaty of peace, with which the contending
parties appeared to be satisfied, and by which five cities on the
coast were opened to the commerce and enterprise of Western
nations, as well as to the labor of the Christian missionary. The
time had now fully come when the labors of the church of God, in
LETTERS. 131
behalf of China, needed no longer to be carried on at a distant
outport.
Macao, May 28th, 1842.
My Dear Mother —
We anchored yesterday at four p. m. in Macao roads. Here I
found Mr. and Mrs. McBryde, who had reached China several
months ago, having taken the voyage from Singapore on account
of his heahh. I was greatly delighted to find him here, and was
much relieved by having his counsel and assistance in deciding
tlie various questions before us. I was most cordially received by
the dilierent missionaries here, and found a temporary home with
the Rev. Mr. Bridgeman. At a late hour I got to bed, under mus-
quito curtains, but could not sleep for a long time. It was so
strange to be lying in a large or wide bed, to be in a large room,
to feel that I was on heathen ground. I greatly missed the ship's
bells, which strike every half-hour on board. The noise of the
gongs, and drums, and rattles, and other strange sounds in the
town, and the many, many thoughts of hundreds of things, past,
present, and to come, that crowded rapidly through my mind,
kept me long awake. It is Saturday night again ; — I am a stran-
ger in the earth, but Ebenezer — Emmanuel.
Hong Kong, June 7th, 1842. I stayed in Macao from Friday
evening till Wednesday morning, and saw a good deal of the
place. The population is about 35,000, principally Chinese, with
perhaps 5000 of Portuguese descent. The streets are narrow and
crooked ; ver}' few are more than ten feet wide, and some not
more than six. They are commonly full of persons passing along,
hucksters and pedlers, with their wares and cries of various kinds.
I saw a poor girl, who had lost both her feet by the leprosy, and
was moving about on her hands and knees. Very few women
are seen in the streets, except that in the mornings and evenings
a number of well-dressed Portuguese woinen, with a servant be-
hind, holding a large umbrella over them, go out to walk. The
ladies, and a good many of the foreign male residents, commonly
pay their visits in sedan chairs, borne by two Chinese. I used to
pity some of the bearers as they went panting along under the
weight of some fat fellow. These bearers commonly go in a little
short trot, though it is very seldom that you see a Chinaman run.
The houses of the foreigners are commonly large and roomy ; the
servants live in the basement, and the owners in the upper floor.
Few or none of them are more than one story high. Most of them
have one or more punkahs. I went out one morning to batlie, in
the place where Mr. Stanton was captured, and in the way passed
through a large Chinese burying ground. Most of the graves
were very carelessly attended to. A great many of them had
pieces of Chinese paper at the head. It is but a short time since
the Chinese had their ceremony of worshipping the graves of their
132 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
ancestors. It is their custom then, to put such a piece of paper on
the graves, to serve as money for their departed ancestors in the
other world. I also visited the Protestant burying ground, where
Dr. Morrison and his first wife are laid. It is a small, and rather
a pretty place, now nearly full. I suppose, however, it will not be
much used hereafter, as probably most of the Protestant foreigners
will remove to Hong Kong.
There is a little chapel owned by the British in Macao, where
one of the missionaries usually preaches every Sabbath, using the
forms of the Episcopal church. Mr. Boone preached on the Sab-
bath, on " Train up a child," &c. — He had first baptized the
daughter of Mr. Swords, an American Episcopal merchant there.
This, I believe, was the first public baptism ever performed by an
American in Macao. The Missionaries usually have their chil-
dren baptized privately. There were two punkahs in the church,
so that, though the day was warm, we were quite comfortable.
There were probably forty persons present. The Chinese, how-
ever, have no Sabbath, and were going about vending their wares,
and uttering their cries, as usual. As for the Roman Catholics
here, their Sabbath is over after mass, which is performed early in
the morning. In the evening I preached to an audience of son\e
twenty or thirty, at Mr. Brown's house, — on Psalm cxix. 19. As
Mr. McBryde was to leave Macao for Amoy on Wednesday, June
1st, together with Mr. Boone and Dr. Cumming. we had a mis-
sionary meeting at Mr. Brown's on Tuesday night. The vessel
in which (hey were to go to Amoy, was lying at Hong Kong, and
I accompanied them to this place.
Having a head wind the whole time, we had to beat all the
way, and were twenty-nine hours coming forty-five miles, the dis-
tance from Macao to Hong Kong. I suppose in oiu" beating about,
we went at least a hundred and fifty miles. The crew were a
jolly set, and very kind, but we could hold almost no intercourse
with them, as they were of the province of Canton, and Mr.
Boone spoke only Hokien. There was not much to interest one
on the route. Our course laj'^ among a multitude of islands at
the mouth of the Canton river. These are high, rocky and bare ;
scarcely any trees or bushes ; and the little grass there is being
very much withered. We saw a few fishing boats, and one or
two small villages. Occasionally a little fisherman's hut was
seen perched among the rocks. At night I spread one of my
Angier-mats on the floor and laid my cloak over it and slept there.
I pitied the rest of our passengers a good deal. Mr. B. and Mr.
McB. were neither of them well ; their wives were even more
weakly, and in addition were sea-sick ; their children were un-
easy and fretful, and two ayahs or female servants, whom they
had engaged to go with them to Amoy, were so sea-sick they
could not hold up their heads. There they were, among tables
and boxes, and chairs, and plates, with scarcely room to stir, sick,
going to a strange country and far away from the comforts of
LETTERS. 133
home and friends. I assure you I began to think more seriously
than before of the personal trials and discomforts of missionary
life. Yet there was not a murmur uttered, nor as far as I could
see, an emotion of impatience or regret felt. We arrived at
Hong Kong harbor about three p. m., on Tliursday.
After some searching we found their ship and put our voyagers
on board, with their baggage. She is but a small vessel, with but
poor accommodations in respect to room. I went ashore and was
most kindly welcomed and entertained by Mr. G , where I
have been staying since my arrival. On Saturday morning I
tried to go up one of the hills back of Mr. G 's house— I
assure you it was up hill work, and I had hard tugging to get
myself up. It was so steep, I concluded to go no further, and sat
down to rest on a rock before descending. My toil in ascending
the hill, naturally reminded me of the circumstances of the mis-
sion, which we were endeavoring to establish here, and of the
work that is yet before us. The difficulties are great — high as
the mountains, and apparently as hard to be removed as the
granite upon them ; and after all, what is it to the eye of man
but a barren prospect, like the bare side of the hill I had been
climbing? And yet, as I ascended I had seen little plants and
flowers, and insects, and shells, and recognized in all of them
traces of the presence and power of God ; and as I looked around
I saw that some Chinese women had ascended the hills to gather
firewood to sustain their earthly lives, and that civilized men
were toiling at great expense to found a city here, where appa-
rently, there was so little prospect of one being founded. If they
spare no expense for a mere earthly object, why should Chiistians
spare their money or labor in endeavoring here to build the temple
of the Lord? There are great difficidties in the way, but when I
looked round, and saw these vast hills piled up on all sides, and
covered over with the immense blocks of granite as if in sport,
just as a child heaps up little sand hills in its play, and disposes
its pebbles and its shells on their sides and their tops, I could
not but exclaim, the God who formed these hills, and placed these
rocks upon them, is all-powerful ; and though they seem im-
movably fixed, yet even men, by slow and patient labor, may take
them away ; and he himself, by means that he can well employ,
can remove them at once. The difficulties of our mission, God
could remove at once ; but if he chooses to employ us in this work,
the probability is, that for the present we shall proceed by slow,
and perhaps for a time, almost imperceptible steps. But the work
shall be done, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. The
granite rocks around were a little sanctuary for me, and I did
not regret my toil in climbing up the hill.
Tlie Sabbath-day to me was a very pleasant day, though I saw
many things to pain me. I could not but feel that I was in a
worse than a heathen country. It is a heathen land under the
control of Christians, where the heathen are allowed, and even
134 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
required by the Christians, to work for them on the Sabbath-day.
How can the missionaries urge on the natives to keep holy the
Sabbath-day, when the merchants and the Government send them
to count money, store away goods, open roads, hew granite, and
build houses, on that day ? And when the Roman Catholic
priests, who are now exerting the greatest influence on the natives
of any of the foreigners, consider that the Sabbath is over as soon
a mass is said ? The merchants go to their counting-rooms as
usual, and the Sabbath is emphatically the day for visiting. —
" Woe is me, that I dwell in Mesech, and sojourn in the tents of
Kedar !" My heart is sick at the sight of the wickedness around.
O Lord, show thyself. I felt almost afraid to establish a mission
here, for how can a city prosper whose foundations are laid in the
desecration of the Sabbath-day. " Sin is a reproach to any peo-
ple," and how much more to England and America !
In the evening I preached in a little mat-house to a company
of some fifteen or twenty persons, mostly pious soldiers, on Luke
xi. 3L Mr. Shuck has had a service among them for some time
past. Mr. Morrison was there. The attention was very good
indeed.
Wednesday, June 8th. I am beginning to wish to be at my
regular missionary employments, but the prospect at present is
rather poor ; several months' voyaging and exploring, and then
two or three years' studying of the Mandarin dialect, and then as
many more at one of the local dialects, — what shall happen before
all that time is passed?
Friday, June 10th. Left Hong Kong with Mr. Shuck yesterday
at two, p. M., in a Chinese " Fast Boat," or passage boat. It was
perhaps of seventy tons' measurement, had a large cabin, and two
small rooms ; the latter were assigned to Mr. Shuck and myself,
as our Chinese fellow-passengers, about twenty in number, occu-
pied the cabin. It was a very comfortable boat, but had neither
berth nor seat. I spread my mat on the floor, and lay there. Mr.
Shuck and I took our dinner, or tea, on the top of the cabin ; we
sat down on the roof, took our bread and meat on pieces of a
newspaper, for want of plates ; and though we had knives and
forks, I found fingers more convenient than the latter. The Chi-
nese made tea for us, and I relished my meal very well.
W^e had a fair wind most of the way, and got to Macao by
daylight.
This is a very unsettled kind of life. I am " living by the day,"
for I know not what a day jnay brmg forth.
Very affectionately yours, W. M. Lowrie.
Macao, June 11th, 1842.
My Dear Father —
.... In regard to the station at Singapore, we are all of opinion
that it must be given up, as soon as we can obtain a station in or
LETTERS. 135
near China. It is too far from China. One half of the year it is
a long and tedious voyage from China there ; the other half, it is
just the same from Singapore here. It will probably take me
from four to six weeks to get to Singapore. The weather in the
China Sea is ahiiost always oppressively warm, particularly so at
this season, and I shall run a good deal of risk of meeting a tyfoon
before I arrive ; then the price of passage in the unfavorable mon-
soon is enormous. Here, then, are time and expense, and, at cer-
tain seasons, danger, in making this voyage. Neither is Singapore
in itself a very advantageous place for a mission station. It is
unhealthy for most persons ; very few can endure the constant
heat, when there is no bracing winter. The character of the
people is also lower there than in many other places. The greater
part of them are mere adventurers; many of them have been pi-
rates ; a very large proportion are unmarried men, while there are
comparatively few women and children. This in itself, of course,
is not a reason why they should receive no attention ; but it is a
reason why we should not turn our attention to places where there
is no prospect either of immediate or enduring success and use-
fulness, when we have not the men and means to occupy every
place where it is desirable to have a station.
As to saying that our labor there would be lost if we gave up
the place, I think that is an entire mistake ; and further, that it
contains a most mischievous principle. No good action once per-
formed, is ever lost. God knows its value. He knows best what
use to make of it. He is best able to turn it to good account. In
so doing, he may work in ways we think not of To our view,
he may make entirely null and void all that we have done, and
where we looked for a fruitful harvest, there may be desolation.
We may seem to have lost all our labor, and spent our strength
for nought. But it is not so ; we have looked for the fruit in the
wrong place. We may say of our work, as the patriarch Job said
of himself, " Its witness is in heaven, and its record is on high."
He who counts even the tears of his saints, and numbers all their
sighs, will not forget the expense, and the labor, and the sufferings
we have endured, the prayers our missionaries have offered, and
the tears they have shed at Singapore. They may not see the
fruit, but he sees it ; and is not this enough? We work to please
him, not to appear well in the eyes of men. It is a very connnon
remark, yet seldom fully appreciated, that the last day will dis-
close the woiks of our hands. Perhaps we shall then see, that
what we counted our most splendid services, those which made
the most show and noise, and promised fairest for usefulness, were
really of least value ; while others, over which we had mourned
as seed tlirown away, shall then be seen to have grown up and
produced fruit and abundant harvest unto eternal life. At the time
our China mission was commenced, Singapore seemed to be the
most promising station, and probably we did right to select that
place. Now the Lord in his providence seems to be opening the
136 MEMOIR OP WALTER M, LOWRIE.
way for a much nearer approach to China, and we shall do wrong
if we do not diligently attend to these intimations of his will.
While we ask, " Lord, what wilt thou have us to do ?" we must
also be ready to go where he points us ; and though we may
hardly know what he would have us to do, yet " there it shall be
told us what we must do."
The Roman Catholics have almost complete possession of Ma-
cao. They have a large number of churches, schools and priests
here ; and frequently have processions through the streets in honor
of their different saints. They had one on St. Anthony's day, a
short time after my arrival, when they carried round an image of
the saint, gaudily decorated with flowers and tinsel, beating drums
and sino'ing' antliems. It is hard to see wherein their religion is
different from that of the Chinese, at least so far as the sanctification
of the Sabbath, and purity of morals, are concerned. They shut
up tlie kingdom of heaven themselves, and they wall not suffer
others to show the way thither. They prohibit Protestants from
carrying on any direct missionary labors, though the prohibition
is not so strictly enforced as it might be, and as I had supposed it
was. By prudence and proper care a missionary may distribute
tracts, go out into the villages, and talk to the people, even gather
a few of them in his house, and preach to them ; and he may have
a small school, which he may direct and instruct as he pleases.
Still, missionaries are under restraint, and they feel it ; and all of
those who are here intend removing to Hong Kong or elsewhere,
as soon as they can make it suit. For a permanent mission sta-
tion, this is not the place. It might, perhaps, be expedient for us
to have our missionaries here for a year or two, until we can make
more permanent arrangements.
The first appearance of Hong Kong was very unpromising.
Though rather greener than any other of the islands at the mouth
of the Canton river, it still partakes of the same general charac-
teristics with them, — exceedingly hilly, with the hills barren, bare,
high and steep, coming down to the water's edge, and very small
and rough valleys between them. The few openings I saw among
the hills seemed only to disclose a still more rough and broken
country. It is almost the last place in the world, where I should
have thought of founding a great city. It is hardly possible to find
a site for a house, without digging down the tops or sides of the
hills, and levelling them off. It cannot raise provisions enough to
support a large population. It must be in great measure depend-
ent on the main land, and on other countries. However, after
spending several days there, and seeing more of its advantages,
my impressions respecting it became decidedly more favorable. It
has a noble and very safe harbor; promises to be very healthy,
though very damp in April, May and .Tune ; and has now every
prospect of filling up rapidly, both with foreigners and Chinese.
The greater part of the Chinese on the island are merely labor-
ers. I saw but few women and children : families are, however.
LETTERS. 137
coming over, and in a few years I think there will be a wide field
for common schools. The population is now between 15.000 and
20,000, one-half of whom live in the city of Hong Kong. The
greater part of those now on the island have come over within the
last twelve months. They are the most unpatriotic set 1 ever
heard of, and make no scruple of selling their services to the na-
tion that is fighting against their country. In tbe attack of the
British on Canton, they found no difficulty in hiring Chinese to
haul up their guns to the batteries.
A number of different dialects are spoken on the island ; the
Canton, however, is principally used. The main land is but half
a mile off; several villages are on the shore just opposite the island.
The country between the Kowloon mountains and Canton is said
to be very fertile and populous.
The Roman Catholics have the start of all the tlotestant mis-
sionaries in Hong Kong. Several French Jesuits went there from
Macao, after raising very large sums of money here ; got a grant
of the very best place on the island for a chapel, and are now
building a chapel and school-house, which will probably cost
$20,000 or $25,000. They are three or four in number, some of
them being men of some experience and knowledge of the world.
To compete with such men, the Protestant churches send out one
or two young men, fresh from the schools, and who have seen lit-
tle or nothing of the world. However, I am not discouraged. If
God has chosen us to build it who are "yet young and tender," he
will give us strength to carry it on, and we will say, " Not by might
nor by power, but by my Spirit saith the Lord." We do hope, how-
ever, that the churches will adopt the language and the spirit of
David, when he said, " Solomon my son is young and tender, and
the house that is to be builded for the Lord, must be exceedingly
magnifical of fame and of glory throughout all countries. I will
therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abun-
dantly before his death."
The consideration of being on the ground and ready, I think of
much importance. There can be no doubt that the doors of China,
those two-leaved gates of brass that have so long been closed, and
guarded by the great Dragon, are shaking and will soon be open-
ed. Every one whom I see is more and more of this opinion.
Surely the time, the set time, to favor the Chinese is come. Their
superstitions are literally "old and ready to vanish away." Their
attacbment to the government is very slight. They are daily
gaining more correct notions of the power of other nations: the
visit of the Constellation and Boston (now at Macao) has given
them higher ideas of the American power than they ever before
possessed. The success of the British will probably soon complete
the subversion of their narrow prt^judices, and they will be far more
open to the reception of Divine truth in a few years than they
have ever been before. It is all-important that the good seed be
138 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
sown while they are in such a state. If we do not, the Roman
Catholics certainly will gain the ascendency.
As for myself, 1 am in good spirits and in good health. My
cup is running over with blessings, and I now feel more anxious
to remain and labor for these Chinese than I ever did before. But
it is hard to find that my mouth is closed, and I cannot speak to
them. How dreadful their condition and prospects, and yet they
do not know it !
The instructions of the Committee, we understood, were that a
station should be formed on the island, provided, 1st, that a suffi-
ciently large lot could be purchased or rented under perpetual
lease ; 2d, that the persons and property of the missionaries would
be protected ; and 3d, that no restrictions would be laid upon our
operations, either in preaching, teaching, or healing. The second
and third provisos were easily answered. Full protection would
be given, and no restrictions whatever imposed. The first, how-
ever, was not so easily settled. A short time since, the island was
put under military government, and all further grants of land for
any purpose refused vmtil further orders should be received from
the home government. . . .
Your aflfectionate son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
China Sea, June 24th, 1842.
Mr. John Lloyd —
My Dear Brother : — I am often thinking of you, and, espe-
cially of late, often wishing I had you out here along with me. You
must come out to China. . . .
Here I am all alone, and rather lonely, going down the China
Sea against the monsoon, and wishing most heartily that I were
on terra finna again, and settled down at my Chinese studies.
Excepting sea-sickness, and a very slight attack of fever at the
commencement of this last trip, I have been uniformly very well
since leaving New York ; and have been enabled to see and hear
a good deal, and to collect a good deal of information respecting
China as a missionary field. I know you Avill be anxious to hear
what I think of it m that respect, so I propose to tell you, in as
few words as possible, what I think of it. You know how very
unexpected it was to me that I should ever'be a missionary to
China. It is not a year yet since my station was assigned to me
in this part of the world ; and I came out with many fears and
misgivings, and many doubts as to my fitness for such a station,
and as to its suitableness for missionary labor at the present time.
But what I have seen and what I have heard has shown me many
things I never knew before, has opened up to me views of its vast-
ness as a field for labor almost overpowering, and has taught me
that many of its difficulties have been greatly overrated. It has its
difficulties, and some of them, such as the evil influence of foreign-
LETTERS. 139
ers, though I knew of them before, are far greater than I had ex-
pected ; but on the whole I am greatly encouraged. There is a
great work to be done, and the men are now wanted to perform
it ; and it is not required that these men should be angels " greater
in might and excelling in power" the rest of mankind, in order
that they may perform it. The language can be learned, the
people can be approached ; and I verily believe that China is now
opening; certainly it is more open now than it has ever been
before. Missionaries can now labor in Macao much more freely
than ever before. Hong Kong will soon be perfectly open. Mis-
sionaries are now at Amoy and Chusan, places where no Protestant
missionaries have ever been before ; and those at Amoy and Chu-
san, where ihe people have not been as yet corrupted by the evil
influence and example of foreigners, represent them as an uncom-
monly interesting people, easy of access, and free in their manners.
They are heathen, of course, and have the vices of heathen ; but
I am inclined to think that there is no people except the native
Africans, among whom I would more readily labor, and with more
hope of success, than among the Chinese ; and this 1 think is say-
ing a good deal ; you know how promising a people I have always
thought the Africans are.
1 am not able now to give you the facts on which I base the
above conclusion. Perhaps I may at some other time. But I
never felt so anxious to live long as I did several times in China,
when I saw the Chinese around me, and wanted to preach Christ
to them. I think I should rejoice to wear out a long life in Christ's
service in China.
I formed some very pleasant acquaintances among the mission-
aries in China, most of whom I have seen, and some of them fre-
quently. . . .
There is an infinite fund of wisdom in our Lord's saying to his
apostles, " Be ye wise as serpents." Missionaries above all other
men, it seems to me, need to be men of prudence ; not actuated by
impulse, but influenced by steady and enlightened principle. Cer-
tainl}^ nothing else will atone for the want of prudence, in a mis-
sionary to China at the present time. A " prudent counsellor" is
invaluable, especially now. And yet there is very great danger of
having prudence degenerate to timidity, and thus overpower our
zeal. Surely we have need of wisdom from on high to direct us.
I often think of Solomon's prayer for wisdom, when he was ap-
pointed to rule over the numerous people of Israel.
How are you coming on in matrimonial affairs? Let me whis-
per in your ears a good piece of advice. Keep your eyes open ; if
you see one who would make you a good and prudent wife, by all
means try and secure her. If you cannot find one that would be
an helpmeet for you, consider it an intimation of Providence that
you are to remain unmarried for the present, and come out single.
Such was the principle I acted on in the United States, and
after all I have felt and seen, I am more and more convinced
140 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
that it is the proper course to be taken. The jiiissionaries here all
recommend that a man should be n>^rried, but I believe they all
abhor what are sometimes called "missionary matches," and I
thiniv most justly. 1 hope you will by example and precept dis-
countenance all such thing's.
How I should like to see you, and chat Avith you for a while !
Where are you ? what doing? How are you getting on ? What
are your prospects 1 When will you be licensed ? Are you ready
to come out here? or do the Nestorians still call forth your sym-
pathies ? Do you still remember " tlie love of your espousals ?" and
that bright and happy season at Jefferson College, with our many
pleasant interviews, and the walks we took, and the prayers we
offered, and the many conjectures and plans for future usefulness
we laid? Some who started with us, and for a while promised as
fair, have already gone back ; while others have already entered
into rest.' Why are w'e spared? What are we doing? Could
we now rejoice to give up the account of our stewardship ?
Farewell — and may the Lord we have so often delighted to
worship together, still watch over and bless thee.
August 12th. Dear brother, if you ever come to China, I hope
you may not have to go up or down the China Sea against the
monsoon. After fifty-three days' hard work, we have "been obliged
to abandon the effort, and are now going to Manila, to lay in fresh
provisions, and prepare for another effort. The monsoon will be
nearly over in a month, and then perhaps we may succeed. How
often have I thought of you on this voyage, and wished you were
here !
Affliction is a good thing to make one study the Scriptures. I
never understood them half so well before, nor relished so much
their precious promises. This has been a pretty severe trial to me :
alone, with no Christian friend ; a boisterous sea ; hope deferred
until the heart became sick, and then entirely cut off. But I have
become pretty well reconciled to it, and can even rejoice, " for the
Lord reigneth." Why he has thus disappointed my expectations,
I cannot yet tell ; but no doubt for wise reasons. This affliction
I trust is doing me good, and I shall yet justify Him in all his
ways.
Very truly yours,
W. M. LOWRIE.
China Sea, June 22d, 1842.
My Dear Mother —
I have a prospect of a long, lonely, and perhaps tedious passage.
And I know of nothing that may contribute better to cheer at least
a few of its lonely hours, than to keep a quiet journal, connecting
me once more with " home and home folks ;" so I pray you to re-
ceive this little manuscript, as another proof, if proof were needed,
that I have not forgotten you, and do not think of you with the
VOYAGE ON THE CHINA SEA. 141
less affection, though my letters may not at all times be composed
with so many laboriously sought exj3ressions of affection, and long-
ing desires to see you again, as you may sometimes meet with in
the case of home-sick travellers.
There were two vessels to leave Macao about the time I wanted
to go to Singapore, the Oneida and the Sea Glueen. The day for
the sailing of the latter was fixed, that of the former was not, and
was uncertain. The Sea Q,ueen would probably accomplish tlie
voyage in one or two weeks less time, being better built for such
a voyage. She was described to me as having " splendid accom-
modations ;" while the price of the passage, at this season, was
said to be "very reasonable." I thougbt it would be a good op-
portunity of seeing something of an English sea-captain and offi-
cers, who had been some time in this part of the world. On the
whole, the advantages seemed to preponderate in favor of tlie Sea
Q,ueen ; so I engaged my passage. She was advertised to sail
June 18th, (Saturday.) 1 was informed, however, on Saturday
morning, by a clerk of the owners, that she would not sail till
Monday, p. m., which suited me very well. So I got a Chinese
boat on Saturday morning to take the boxes and a keg of specie
on board. The distance was four miles at least, wind dead ahead,
and quite a heavy sea all the time; occasionally a sprinkling of
spray came over me, as the boat had no shelter of any kind.
It being impossible to sail against such a wind, the boatmen
took their oars, and after two hours' hard pulling, finding them-
selves still half a mile from the Sea Queen, they laid them
down and put up the sail, intending to beat out the rest of the
way. They made two tacks, which occupied another hour, and
gained only half the distance. A heavy rain cajne on, making it
impossible to see anything ; strong wind and heavy sea. The
head man of the boat, who for some time had seemed disheartened,
turned to me, and made a very significant gesture towards Macao.
"No," said I, pointing to the ship, "there." "No can," said he,
" no can, I go Macao ; to-morrow go seep." " No, no," said I,
" go ship now, there." " No can." " Yes can ; put down sail ;
take oar; go ship," said I, explaining myself more by actions than
by words. But the fellow grumbled and repeated, " No can do ;
no can do." " Yes, can do ; must do ; put down sail ; take oar ;
go ship." All this m the middle of a soaking rain. After a good
deal of persuasion, I at last succeeded in carrying my point, and
the fellows put down their sail, took their oars, and, I must say,
worked most heartily. In fifteen minutes, the rain was over and
we were along side of the Sea Q,ucen. I got my baggage safely
stored, and being quite wet, I hurried on shore to get my clothes
changed. The wind being quite favorable for going ashore, I got
back in half an hour ; got up to Mr. Brown's, and changed my
clothes. Late on Saturday, word came that the " Sea Q,ueen goes
to-morrow morning at daylight, and you will have to go aboard
to-night." There was no help for it ; so I hastily packed up ray
142 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
trunk, said good-bye to my kind friends, to all of whom, and espe-
cially Mr. and Mrs. Brown, I had become very much attached, and
at half-past six, got aboard another Chinese boat to go out to the
vessel. It rained several times pretty hard, yet we got out in two
hours and a half. It was rather a stormy, uncomfortable prepa-
ration for the Sabbath ; and I could not think without longing re-
membrances of the many pleasant Saturday evenings on board
the Huntress, and particularly of the " preparation," as " the Sab-
bath drew near," at home. I wondered what you were all doing ;
and whether you had any idea of my situation, — alone, weary,
and half despondent. However, my troubles seemed to be over
when I got safely on board, and I thought I should now in these
" splendid accommodations," have at least a quiet and pleasant
voyage to Singapore. But I began to think very soon, that I had
reckoned without my host. My room is a good, large, airy apart-
ment, and high enough for me to stand upright ; but it has no
berth, though a large transom supplies the place of that ; no table,
no wash-stand ; not even a wash-basin ; no lamp, no shelves, only
one or two hooks, and one stool ; these are its " accommodations."
The first thing I saw when I went in at night, was a host of large
cockroaches, which made themselves perfectly at home there ; a
quantity of spiders and spider's webs in every corner; and a very
unpleasant odor, caused, 1 suppose, in great part, by the cock-
roaches, to which, after three or four days' experience, I have not
yet become accustomed.
We were to have sailed at daylight Sabbath morning, but did
not get off till ten o'clock ; had a head wind and rough sea ; and
by ten o'clock, p. m., we had gone only ten or fifteen miles, and had
to anchor just outside of the great Ladrone Island. Next day we
did very little better, and beat about in sight of land all day.
Meantime I felt very poorly, Sabbath morning, though not unwell.
I could not fix my thoughts on anything. The business of our
mission, and various plans, kept crowding into my mind. I tried
to read the Psalms, Life of Martyrs, &c., but could not with any
ease or pleasure. Afternoon, my head ached, tooth ached, hands
and face were sore from being sun-burnt the day before, and I had
a good deal of fever, which kept on me for several hours. I was
tired lying down, yet too weak to sit up; and it was too wet and
unpleasant to be out. The officers were too busy to attend to me ;
and Chun Sing, who is going with me to Singapore, was quite sea-
sick himself. Oh, how often I thought of the Huntress, with her
nice clean sweet cabins, her kind captain, pious mate, intelhgent
and quiet crew, and pleasant passengers. Everything seemed
different here. I could hardly avoid murmuring, though at the
same time I felt that I had many, many more comforts and mer-
cies than I deserved, and after a while I became rather more satis-
fied. Next day, I kept getting better ; got several refreshing naps,
and in each of them had a sweet and pleasant dream. I dare not
tell you the first, — it would amuse you too much. In the second,
VOYAGE ON THE CHINA SEA. 143
I dreamed that father and yourself had come out to Macao to see
me. He wanted to go to Singapore in the Sea Q,ueen, but I told
him to go in the Huntress by all means. We had to part for a
while, and I was very anxious for him to read the letters, and par-
ticularly the official one, which I had that morning left in the
hands of a young friend to be sent to America by the fiist vessel.
I hope you have got them before now. I had some trouble to get
the letters for him in time, and just as I got them, I awoke, and
behold it was a dream.
Next day, Tuesday, I was better still ; and to-day, Wednesday,
June 22d, I am quite. well, and have things a little more comfort-
ably fixed. I have told Chun Sing to come to my room every
day, and read the New Testament, and learn the Shorter Cate-
chism, &c. This is the strength of the S. W. monsoon, so that
we have the wind strong and right ahead, and shall have it so all
the way. Consequently, we have to sail one hundred and fifty
miles at least, in order to make fifty on our course.
Saturday, June 25th. Here we are still beating down the China
Sea, but on the whole making very fair progress. As good success
as we have had thus far would take us to Singapore in twenty
days, and I should be pretty well satisfied to be assined we should
be no longer. My situation, on the whole, is tolerably pleasant ;
though I do sometimes feel sadly out of sorts. In the Huntress,
when I had no other employment, I could sit and watch our
sailors ; they were always busy, either working, or talking, or
reading ; and what they did, they seemed to do heartily. But
these Lascars are the poorest set of human creatures I have ever
seen; they are not to be compared to the Chinese. There must
be near fifty of them aboard, though the vessel is not much more
than half as large as the Huntress, which had only twenty men
and boys ; and yet these fifty do not do their work half as well as
those twenty. So many of them seize hold of a rope, that they
are actually in each other's way. and they pull as if they were
afraid of hurting the rope's feelings. And then, so dirty ; I have
not seen one of them with a clean article of dress since 1 came on
board. I must except the carpenter, who is a pretty decent-look-
ing fellow. He is a Chinaman. It does me good to look at him.
I do not want to see our butler at all, however, and least of all when
I am eating, — with his soiled turban and faded shawl, dirty trow-
sers, and apparently unwashed face and hands. 1 was always
fond of potatoes, but I like them now better than ever, for they
come to the table with their coats on, and I am sure they are
clean ; cannot say the same of anything else at table. But, a
man must eat, and there is no use of being so squeamish ; besides,
I am usually hungry at breakfast time, half-past eight, and at
dinner, half-past two ; and these are the only meals I eat. At tea
I take but little, the lea is so abominable that I can not drink it.
And the dry ship biscuit, the only bread we have, is not very in-
viting by itself.
144 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
I could bear these little matters, if other things were right. Our
officers are to me quite gentlemanly, and personally, I have no
complaint ; but, they evidently consider the men as of an inferior
caste. And the men feel that they are looked upon as such.
Some of the men have rather fine countenances, but almost all of
them betray vacant minds, or, at least, minds filled only with the
least important cares of this passing and perishing world. How
can I be sufficiently grateful that I am made to differ from them 1
As to religious services, at present there are none ; and this, more
than anything else, makes me feel alone. The most pleasant oc-
cupation I have, is to spend an hour every morning in teaching
Chun Sing the New Testament, and the Shorter Catechism. And
perhaps I may give another hour hereafter to other studies.
Then I read Hengstenberg's Christology, History of Scotland, The
Middle Ages, (fcc. ; study a little Chinese, and about China, &.c.
I write some every day ; expect to have a host of letters writ-
ten when I get to Singapore ; and if a vessel should be going
thence to the United States direct, they will arrive sooner than
those I wrote at Macao.
The thermometer has stood about 84° all week ; to-day, 85°,
but owing to the strength of the wind, the air has been quite pleas-
ant. Numerous flocks of flying-fish are constantly starting up, as
our vessel in her course disturbs them. What immense numbers
there must be ! We probably startle some thousands every day,
aud yet the course of our ship is a very narrow line in the midst
of a very wide sea. Sea sights have lost much of their novelty
for me now, and I have to seek amusement and employment
principally in myself. It is well for me that I can do so, and still
better that there is one above me to whom I can always go. For
three or four days after the voyage commenced, I could hardly
bear the thoughts of its lasting thirty or forty days ; — but now I
am disposed to say with cheerfulness, " The Lord reigns, let the
earth rejoice !" Let him hasten or retard the end of this voyage,
as seems best to himself, for He doeth all things well.
Sabbath evening, June 26th. At the close of a silent Sabbath,
my thoughts turn back to the land of my birth, and I cannot help
asking, how are you all? And what are you doing? In a few
hours I suppose you will be going up to the house of God. You
have opportunities of communion with fellow Christians. Your
hearts are cheered at the sight of churches, and though pained at
the prevalence of wickedness, yet you can believe that the Lord
has much people around you. It is not so here. I am alone, as
far as Christian society is concerned, and almost alone as far as
any society is concerned ; surrounded on all sides by lands where
there is no Sabbath, few churches, few Christians. In such a sit-
uation I find it a very hard thing to keep up the life of religion.
At home one depends for the state of his religious feelings very
much on the general tone of the churches around him ; here there
is nothing of the kind to depend upon. Perhaps this is an ad-
VOYAGE ON THE CHINA SEA. 145
vantage, for it causes one to feel more entirely his dependence on
God, the great Author of all true religious emotions ; but it is hard
at first, to become reconciled to such a state of things, and like
David of old, I can well say, " I had rather be a door-keeper in
the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness."
When you go up with the great congregation to worship God, do
not forget those that are in the ends of the earth, and that are far
off upon the sea. True, God, your God, is our confidence ; but it
is pleasant to think that we are thought of l>y you, in' the midst
of your privileges. Tlie tears fill my eyes, and my heart is full,
when I think of you and your enjoyments ; but I have no wish to
go back. Blessed be the name of Christ for that precious promise,
" Lo, I am with you always."
And yet it is good to be in such circumstances occasionally.
There are passages of Scripture that cannot be understood other-
wise. I have often read over, and dwelt upon the eighty-fourth
Psalm, and yet all my previous meditations, and all the commen-
taries I have read upon it, have not shown me its sweetness and
beauty, so much as this day's experience.
Trul}^, " Blessed are they that dwell in thy liouse ; they will be
still praising Thee." But those who enjoy these external privi-
leges, do not monopolize all the blessings. " Blessed is the man
whose strength is in thee, in whose heart are the ways of them."
Even in the most unfavorable circumstances, when far removed
from the refreshing dews of God's house, they shall enjoy his
favor. " Passing tluough the valley of Baca (weeping, Bochim,).
he jnaketh it a well ; the rain also filleth the pools." (" As the raiii^
cometh down from heaven, so is my word," &c.) Such are the
consolations of wanderers here ; and hereafter, after they have
gone from strength to strength, " Every one of them in 'Zion
appeareth before God." Such truths and encouragements may
well strengthen a lonely wanderer to run with patience the race
set before him ; and while he cannot but feel, that a, day in the
Lord's courts is better than a thousand, yet even here " the Lord
God is a sun and shield ; no good thing doth he withhold from them
that walk uprightly." How far superior is such a lot to that of the
proudest of this world's favorites ; truly "my sou| doth magnify
the Lord, and my spirit rejoiceth in God my Saviour."'
Monday, June 27th. I did not expect to have been becalmed in
the strength of the monsoon ; but we are. Have hardly gone
twenty miles in the last twenty hours, I do not think, however, it
will last long, but it tries the captain's patience a good deal. I
have been busy to-day, and happy, though alone.
Tuesday, June 28th. We made eight miles yesterday, and from
present appearances shall not make much more to-day ; though a
little squall we had this afternoon, may have carried us on per-
haps five miles. I was very glad the squall came, for in the rain
our dirty Lascars got a washing, that improves their appearance
very much. I have now got to feel pretty well contented and at
10
146 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
home, but would notwithstanding be very glad to be at Singapore,
and better pleased still to be at Macao, or some place nearer
China.
As you wanted to know what we live on, I will give you the
account of one day's fare. It has been precisely the same, every
day since I came on board. Breakfast, at half-past eight ; tea,
fowl or duck, salt beef, salt tongue, potatoes, rice and curry, guava
jam. Our only bread is ship-biscuit. For dinner, at half-past
two ; soup, commonly pea soup, fowl or duck, salt beef, salt tongue,
potatoes, rice and curry, pudding, generally of some kind of dough
and rather heavy, cheese, preserved ginger, or some similar sweet-
meats. For tea, at six o'clock ; tea and biscuit. I have a won-
derful appetite at present, and eat my salt beef and potatoes with
very great relish. I suppose the above bill of fare will last all the
voyage, unless the fowls and ducks should happen to give out.
Wednesday, June 29th. With reading and writing and eating
and sleeping, my time passes quite comfortably, though I often
catch myself wishing to be at Singapore. Yet there is no use of
being impatient. My principal reason for wishing to be at Singa-
pore soon, is that I may the sooner be at my appointed business.
But surely the Master on wiiose business T am sent, knows best
when I ought to be there, and it is in his power to hasten or re-
tard my arrival. He holds the winds, and can cause them to waft
me on speedily, if He sees best. If He does not choose to have it
so, certainly He has wise reasons for doing as He does, and I ought
contentedly to submit. With such considerations, I try to allay
the impatience I sometimes feel, at being delayed by these calms.
Saturday, July 2d. Still progressing slowly. Had calms every
day of greater or less duration, from Sabbath till to-day. Though,
as we commonly had a little wind at night, and that such a wind
as enabled us to proceed directly on our course, we have probably
gone quite as far as we should have done, had the monsoon been
blowing in its strength. Yesterday we did uncommonly well. We
had a good breeze during the night, that carried us eighty miles di-
rectly towards Singapore. To-day we are going perhaps faster,
but not so directly ; we are running now between south-east and
south, or to speak according to the compass, we are going S. S. E,
Having been pretty busy, my time has passed away rspidly and
pleasantly, though I do at times feel the monotony of this voyage
quite sensibly, and often think of the Huntress. To increase my
pleasure, the captain said that two months ago, as he was going
from Singapore to Macao, he was becalmed ten whole days in sight
of a small island near Singapore, and he believed he was fated to
make long voyages in the China Sea. There ! while I am writing
I see the sails flapping against the masts, and we are becalmed
again ! What is so helpless a thing as a ship at sea in a calm?
How vain is all human power in such a case ! and oh, how much
more dreadful, is the spiritual case of those who are deprived of
the influences of that Spirit, which is like the wind that bloweth
VOYAGE ON THE CHINA SEA. 147
where it listeth ! If Christians were half as anxious to obtain the
influences of the Spirit, as sailors are to catch the breeze, what a
different appearance the church would have.
Wednesday, July 6th. The calm I spoke of Saturday p. m. lasted
but a few minutes, and we have had the monsoon strong ever
since ; strong wind, heavy sea, and slow progress. Yesterday we
went fifteen miles west and fifteen south ; to-day, thirty miles
west and twenty north ; so that, as far as latitude is concerned,
we are worse off than we were two days ago. This morning the
wind was so strong that it broke our main top-gallant-mast, and the
men have been all day employed making a new one. There has
been so nmch motion yesterday and to-day, and that of so un-
pleasant a kind, that I could not study Chinese. Just as I get
my pencil ready to make a neat stroke, away goes the ship ; and
while 1 am busy liolding to whatever I can catch, the ship stag-
gers oif, and leans over on the other side, and a wave rushes in at
one of the lee ports. Still, on we dash on our foaming way, and
as yet no harm has befallen any of us. My situation is as pleas-
ant as that of any on board, indeed more so ; a good large room,
plenty to eat and wear, plenty of books and papers, and at present
no responsibility. Yet I would like to be at the end of this voyage.
We have now been out sixteen days, and are not half way yet.
These poor Lascars have rather a hard life ; their only food is
rice, with a very little curry. They sit on the deck, and eat with
their fingers, three or four out of the same dish. They sleep on
deck, in the open air, with only a coarse piece of flannel for a
covering. No provision at all is made for their accommodation in
the " country ships," no forecastle nor berths. If it rains, they
must let it rain, and sleep through it, or else keep awake. All
hands are employed all day, and no watches are kept, as on board
vessels manned by English or Americans. They may sleep all
night, unless they are wanted, when the " tindals," or overseers,
of whom there are four, answering to boatswain and boatswain's
mates, sound their whistles, and call all hands. Six of them,
however, at a time, watch for two hours during the night, and
when the bells are struck, every half-hour, the one nearest raises
a yell, for I can call it nothing else, which is repeated by the next,
and so on through the whole six. This is to show that they are
awake ; but, for all the watch they keep, they might as well be
asleep.
The ^^ glorious fourtK'' passed away without a word being said
on the subject. I thought of it, and of the last fourth of July I
had spent, at Marshall, Michigan, and how little I then expected
to have ever been tossing about on the China Sea. Who knows
what a day may bring forth ?
Saturday, July 9th. The close of the third week of our voyage,
and we hardly can say that we have gone halfway ! We have
come ten degrees of latitude, but we have ten degrees more of lat-
itude, and eight of longitude, still to traverse : if we run west, we
148 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
cannot go south ; if we run south, we must also run east ; thus
making our distance in longitude greater. But why should I
complain ? If hope is deferred, should my heart be made sick
thereby, when I know that a Father's kind hand defers ill I felt
greatly reproved this afternoon, as I sat on the stern, and saw a
large sea-fowl slowly sailing over the waters. Our Heavenly Fa-
ther cares for it, and feeds it, even on these wide and rolling wa-
ters ; am not I of more value than many such ? Is not the work
I am engaged in more for his glory, than the preservation and
sustenance of the fowls of the air and the lish of the sea? And
if he cares for them, will he not much more care for me and carry
me on? Surely he knoweth what is best for me, and most for his
own glory. I will therefore conmiit my way imto the Lord, and
trust also in Him. He will bring it to pass. Forgive me, dear
mother, if I bring these things improperly to your eye ; I have no
one here of kindred spirit with myself, and it is pleasant, even
though on paper, and afar ofT, to give utterance to sentiments that
I know will find a response in your own feelings. It seems to me,
were I once more in the society of fellow-christians, I should prize
much more highly than 1 have ever done, the opportunity of talk-
ing of these things, — of " speaking one to another."
Monday, July 11th. For two days we have been running west,
and have made over three degrees ; but a strong current yesterday
carried us more than a degree to the north of our position on Sat-
urday. The officers are beginning to shake their heads, and pre-
dict a long passage. We have all, I think, made up our minds to
six weeks instead of four. The mate told me to-day, that the
Sea Queen had never had a fair wind for a whole* da}"^ since she
was launched, about fifteen months since ! However, I do not
know but that this voyage will prove a very profitable one to me.
It reminds me of several facts that had almost entirely escaped
from my memory. I had quite forgotten that the Apostle Paul,
after being in journeyings often, in weariness, in painfulness, &c.,
had also "thrice been shipwrecked, and spent a night and a day
in the deep." So it seems even the best of missionaries did not
escape from some troubles on the seas. I wonder if he had as fine
a state-room as I have, and whether, in his voyages, he had to
live on salt provisions and hard biscuit ! We have no journals
nor diaries and the like, from the times of the Apostles, to tell us
how they managed on such occasions ; but the more I think of
the matter; the more I am inclined to believe that I am better off
as to outw^ard things, than Paul, or almost any of his fellow-la-
borers ; and therefore, so far, I have not much reason to complain.
Still, I must saj'', I should not be sorry to exchange this ship's fare
for a short residence in Singapore. However, the Huntress has
spoiled me. The Sea Queen is a great deal better ship than the
Anna Watson, in which Mr. McBride went to Amoy.
I have since found a passage of Scripture much more to the
point than the one above. Acts xxvii. 7. " And when we had
VOYAGE ON THE CHINA SEA. 149
sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cni-
dus, the wind not suffering us," &c. It has taken such hold of
me, that I have laid it up for future consideration.
Friday, July 15th. Through the obstinacy and self-will of our
captain, we have less and less prospect of a speedy voyage. He
has taken a notion that he will not go to the eastward of long. 112^.
A strong current has prevailed for some days, which drives us
northward, and has almost totally rendered our tacks to the south
useless, yet he persists in keeping the ship off to the west ; conse-
quently, for four days we did almost nothing. Last night the
wind came out so strongly, that he could not go to the westward
without going north of north-west, and after trying for six hours
to go westward, he was obliged to give up, and put her head to
the south-east ; consequently to-day we have made nearly a de-
gree of southing, and I hope are out of the influence of the current
which we have felt ever since Sabbatii afternoon. I am heartily
sick of this ship. The mates are rather clever men, but so ill-
tempered and obstinate a man as the captain, I have hardly ever
seen. He treats me civilly enough, but I have little pleasure at
table, from the severity of his temper towards the servants.
I am afraid you v.^ill think I make too much of these tilings,
and I must confess, I never knew I had so impatient a spirit, as
the delays of this voyage have stirred up in me. It has been a
severe conflict within me, to overcome this impatience ; but,
through grace, I trust I am now in a great measure resigned to
these things; and perhaps, on the whole, this voyage will be one
of the most profitable I have ever made. It gives opportunities
for solitude that I have not had for months past, teaches me how
to Va.lue privileges I do not now enjoy, discloses myself to myself,
and forces me to rely not on human, but divine strength.
We had quite a gale last night, with a very heavy sea ; so much
tossing and pitching, that I scarcely slept the whole night. For
the time it lasted, it was more uncomfortable than the gale off St,
Paul's, where we had to lie to for twelve hours. We were almost
lying to, the greater part of the last night, but now (p. m.) we are
going on rather pleasantly.
Monday, July 18th. About six a. m., on Saturday, the wind rose
again with great force, and it was the middle of the day, yester-
day, before it abated. In the gale on Friday, the wind split our
fore-topsail and jib, and others had to be put up in their places.
On Saturday the wind split the second fore-topsail, main-topsail,
and spanker. Ship rolled prodigiously, and for a while things
looked rather dark, as you may well suppose. A strong gale and
heavy sea, and the wind dead ahead, are not very pleasant things.
At the middle of the day on Saturday, we were not more than one
degree further on our course than we were seven days before; with
a slight variation, we might almost have adopted Peter's words :
" We have toiled all night and caught nothing."
The captain's swearing and damning everything and every-
150 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
body, had been so trying to me, that I was greatly at a loss to
know what to do. It was very unpleasant to hear him, and it
seemed like "suffering sin in him," not to tell him of it; and yet,
knowing his passionate temper, I felt afraid to say anything, lest
it should only make him worse. However, I took the opportunity
of speaking to him last night about it, when he seemed to be in a
better humor than usual. I was most agreeably disappointed.
He looked rather hard at me at first, butahnost immediately said,
" I know it is a very bad habit — a very bad habit. I feel it every
time I do so. It must be very unpleasant to you. There is not a
day I do not ask for forgiveness, but I can not break myself of it."
We talked a good while about it, and I had the opportunity of
dropping a good many truths to him, which may, perhaps, yet
do him good. He said he had observed, that often when he was
scolding and damning the men, I went down to my cabin. " I
felt that, for I knew why you did it, and I am very sensitive to
such things." He then tried to excuse it ; did not think it was
very wrong, for he did not mean anything bad by it, &c. I re-
ferred him to the words of the third commandment, "taking the
name of the Lord in vain." To that he had nothing to say. He
then said, one could not get along without it. " Here these men
speak fifty languages : 1 can not understand them, and (hey can not
understand me without I swear at them. They will not beheve you
are angry or in earnest unless you swear at them !" What a pic-
ture of the moral influence of nominal Christians over the heathen !
and yet missionaries have to labor to convert the heathen who are
employed by nominal Christians to work for them on the Sabbath
day, and who can not understand a Christian, or believe him in ear-
nest, unless he swears at them. Of course I protested against
such an opinion, and said it could never be right or necessary to
swear. We then talked about something elsis ; and during a
pause in the conversation, he abruptly remarked, " I know it must
be very unpleasant to you, and perhaps you sometimes thought I
did it intentionally, but I did not." I remarked I thought him too
much of a gentleman to do that. He would not promise positively,
but said he "would try to break himself of the habit."
The wind is such to-day, that we could go almost in a south
course — S. by E. — but unfortunately there are a number of shoals
in that direction, and this wind would carry us among them in
twelve hours; consequently, we are obliged to put oif to tli"^
north-west, and the wind being strong, we "lose a point" in our
course, by lee-way. Such are some of the troubles of the voy-
ager's life. Do not forget to pray for fhe sailor.
Tuesday, July 19th. Wind more favorable still ; we can go
south, and sometimes even S. by W., but being still too near the
shoals have to run W., and N. W. by N., more than half the
time. Yesterday was the best day's work we have made in a
long time, thirty miles west and sixteen south, equal to about
thirty-three on our course, i. e., if the captain's observation was a
VOYAGE ON THE CHINA SEA. 151
good one, of which he is doubtful. We are now very seriously
expecting that our trip will be of two months, instead of one
month. But the Lord reigneth, I trust I can rejoice thereat. We
certainly have evidence that He is watching over us. To-day, as
I was lying on the transom, (there has been so much motion for
a week, that it is very unpleasant to sit, and I spend more than
half the time lying down,) very quietly reading one of Irving's
sketches, I heard a great and unusual cry on deck. As it con-
tinued, I ran out and found a man had fallen from the bowsprit
into the sea. Most providentially, he caught one of the ropes
thrown to him, before the ship had gone too far, and was drawn
in. The sea was so rough, that the captain could hardly have
let a boat down for him. Had it been night ; had the sea been
rougher ; had he fallen on the other side of the vessel, where the
waves would have carried him from her ; had he not been able
to grasp the rope ; in any of these cases he would have been lost.
But the poor heathen, if he thinks at all about it, will ascribe his
escape to chance, or to some of his idols, as blind and helpless as
chance. These poor fellows have a great horror of the sea. It
is only by high wages that they will serve as sailors. These men
get fourteen rupees monthly, or nearly seven dollars, a large sum
for such sailors ; and after all, the greater part of the crews of
the " country ships" are impressed by force, and carried off with-
out their own consent.
July 21st. Here we are, fifty miles north and thirty miles west
of our station, day before yesterday, (iuite a gale came on yes-
terday afternoon, and we have been almost lying to for twenty-
four hours. We have one duck, and ten fowls left, and nearly a
certainty of having only salt meat for a few weeks to come, un-
less Providence so order it that we get to Smgapore next week,
which might be done, even in this monsoon, under favorable circum-
stances. The captain has begun to talk of allowances of wood,
water and provisions. Outward things look gloomy. I do not
say these things by way of complaint, for I feel less disposed to
complain now, than at any previous part of the voyage, but to
give you some idea of our situation. As to myself, I find the
promises increasingly precious, and I think I shall soon have Acts
xxvii. by heart. It becomes more and more instructive. Still,
hope has not yet left me, that we may make a reasonable voyage
as to time, though the prospect is n)ore and more discouraging.
Such times as these, head winds, tossing tempests, and adverse
currents, make me think of that happy place, where " there is
no iiiore sea."
The most unpleasant thing about our present situation, is its
uncertainty. We may have a favorable wind to-morrow, and soon
reach our "desired haven." We may toss about here for weeks,
and at last not be able to make the port after all. But " the Lord
reigns, let the earth rejoice. Clouds and darkness are round
152 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
about him, but righteousness and judgment are the habitation of
his throne."
July 22d. Worse and worse ; after running for eighteen hours to
the N. W. and W. N. W., and six hours S. S. E., at the rate of
four miles an hour all the time, we find ourselves twenty miles
north, and ten miles east of our station yesterday ! Tlie current
here must be tremendous. We are almost at our " wits' end."
We have now been beating about for a week, most of the time
under double-reefed topsails, and have made almost no progress.
Indeed, we are very little farther on than we were two weeks ago.
Yet I am thankful to find that my own mind is calm and peace-
ful most of the time. I should greatly regret to be obliged to put
back to Macao ; and should be most heartily glad to be at Singa-
pore, or to be assured of getting there in three weeks ; but it is the
Lord who has " raised the stormy wind," and he has wise ends in
view. It is not very comfortable being here. My health may
suffer for want of exercise, there being so much motion, it is hard-
ly possible, with safety, to take any ; the affairs of the mission
may be retarded somewhat by my detention ; Dr. Hepbiuui may
be in need of the funds I have with me, so may Mr. Buell. Our
removal to China, should that be resolved on, may be delayed a
good while, tfcc. ; but all these things are known to Him who con-
trols my course, and He will care for his own cause. Cowper's
hymn,
" God moves in a mysterious way,"
is a very precious one, especially the last lines :
" God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain."
Saturday, July 23d. Twenty miles to the east of our station
yesterday ; same latitude.
" Woe is me that I dwell in Mesech, and sojourn in the tents of
Kedar !" I pray God, my dear mother, that neither you nor any
other of my friends may ever be placed as I now am, at least so
far as society is concerned. I have spoken before of the captain's
temper. To-day, both at breakfast and dinner, it has broken out
against the servants in a most unpleasant manner. I had almost
got up from the table before dinner was half over. I do not won-
der that they try his patience, for such a set I never saw. We
have three to wait on the table, besides the cook and the dish-
washer, and this morning they complained that there was too
much to do ! There are but four of us at the table here, while in
the Huntress two waited on eight, and did it incomparably bet-
ter than these three, besides attending to the state-rooms, and keep-
ing the cabin and all the dishes as clean and sweet as could be
desired. These fellows never think of cleaning the cabins, and
frequently I cannot find a clean tumbler to get a drink with !
More than once I have been obliged to send away the knife and
fork they handed me, and tell them to give me clean ones. Still,
VOYAGE ON THE CHINA SEA. 153
it is very unpleasant to witness and be obliged to bear with sucli
outbursts of temper. ''Oh that 1 had the wings of a dove ; then
would I fly away and be at rest," Do not think me discontented.
I have felt and enjoyed for several days past, the power of religion ;
and do generally enjoy great peace of mind, though at times I am
"in heaviness through these temptations." How dreadful it would
be to dwell forever in such society !
Monday, July 25th. I see the China Sea in an entirely different
aspect this voyage, from what it was in May, when we went up.
Then all was calm ; now all is stormy. We are lying to to-day
again, after splitting three or four more sails. Yesterday and to-
day have been so cloudy as to allow no observation, and we know
noi where we are. I ahnost begin to doubt whether we shall ar-
rive at Singapore at all, during- this monsoon. We have now
been out the usual time required to make the trip, and the pros-
pect is darker than ever. The captain talks of going to Manila
to lay in fresh stores. We shall be obliged to do this before long,
if we do not soon arrive at Singapore, as we have provisions for
but little more than a month longer. However, I am not discour-
aged. ^'Jehovah Jlreh. In the mount it shall be seen." God is
accustomed to reveal himself when his creatures are at their greatest
extremities. I have been comparing my condition with that of
the Lascars on board ; ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill-treated, working hard,
few social, no intellectual, and, worse than all, no spiritual privi-
leges. How much is my condition better than theirs !
Friday, July 29th. AVe are now near two hundred miles further
north than we were last week, and about sixty miles further from
Singapore than we were fifteen days ago. I thought that I under-
took this voyage in obedience to the intimations of Providence, but
hitherto they have almost all been against us. One gale this
week drove us eighty miles to the northward in less than twenty
hours ; head winds and adverse currents make it nearly impossible
to proceed. Our provisions will last us but a month longer, and it
would require almost all that lime in favorable circumstances to
make the remainder of our voyage.
To be sure all anxiety, even on these points, is quieted by the
recollection that Christ is " head over all things for the church,"
and that all things shall work together for good, to them that love
God ; but sometimes I forget these things.* I would not willingly
undertake another such voyage as this, and yet I must say, so
great have been the benefits which I have received from this trial,
that they far more than counterbalance all the inconveniences
hitherto endured. Still we are not required to seek afflictions, and
I should greatly rejoice to be once more on solid ground ; yet
while dfUained I hope to be sustained.
Saturday, July 30th. The pleasantest day we have had for
weeks ; a light clear sky, blue sea, little motion, and pleasant
* I am not quite sure that I recollect rirrht, but I think Bunyan makes Mr. Forget-
good Mayor of Mansoul in place of my Lord Understanding, which is very appropriate.
20
154 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
breeze. At noon, the captain put his head into my room, crying,
with great glee, " Hurrah, she springs it again ! We have made
ten miles southing !" The first time we have been able to get to
the south for a week, though we have had more favorable winds.
This is a "little reviving in our bondage," among these currents.
If it will only continue! In a case like this, one is in danger
either of building too much on such a prospect as we have to-day,
or, on the other hand, of "despising the day of small things," and
being cast down, because it is no better.
I was much struck with Isa. xxvi. 4, yesterday evening. The
literal translation of the Hebrew is, " Trust ye in Jehovah even for-
ever, for in Jah Jehovah is the rock of unending ages." No trans-
lation, however, can give the force of the original. It is, I thiftk,
even more emphatic than " the five negatives," Heb. xiii. 5, on
which you may have seen some very delightful remarks in Nevin's
Practical Thoughts. I think if I ever know enough of Chinese to
be of any service in translating the Bible into it, I shall find it a
very pleasant employment. I find that in proportion as I closely
examine almost any passage, it presents gems more and more
sparkling. Thus, in the above passage, in addition to the triple
mention of the name Jehovah, the peculiar name of God, as the
Covenant God of his people, the first "forever" is literally "eter-
nities of eternity ;" and the last expression is "the rock of ever-
lastings." Well might the Psalmist (Ps. cxliv. 15.) say, "Happy
is that people" (literally, O the blessednesses of that people,)
" whose God is Jehovah .'"
Monday, Aug. 1st. Delightful weather and fair progress ; yes-
terday, forty-six miles direct ; to-day, fifty-six to the east, and three
to the south ; and wind getting more favorable. If this weather
continues, we hope to be in Singapore in less than three weeks.
Tuesday, Aug. 2d. Still progressing at a very fair rate. Saw
the coast of Cochin China to-day, about thirty or forty miles off.
It is high and mountainous, but we have not gone near enough to
see its features very distinctly. The part we saw was Cape
Varela, or the Pagoda Cape — so called from a very large rock on
the side of the mountain, just behind the cape. It has a very
singular appearance.
Saturday, Aug. 6th. After going on swimmingly for four or five
days, we found ourselves beset by a current yesterday, which be-
came very strong to-day, and has sent us a long way to the east-
ward. This casts rather a damp over our spirits. Where we are
now, Lat. 11°, is the narrowest part of the sea, and if we meet a
current anywhere it is likely to be here. Could we only get two
degrees further down, we should probably be safe enough. To-
day finishes our forty-ninth day, and yet we are hardly more than
half way ; yet the weather is fine, and we still hope for the best,
though I assure you it is quite trying. What shall the end of
these things be ? Here I am all alone ; no, not alone ; for God i^
here, and He whose Providence did so remarkably arrest me a
VOYAGE ON THE CHINA SEA. 155
year ago, and turn my course from Africa to China, and has
brought me hither, too, will not now desert me. Nothing encour-
ages me so mucli in regard to my labors in this mission, as the
recollection that I have been sent here. I should never have come
of my own free choice ; and I am sure that He who has sent me
has work for me to do, for which he will strengthen me. It may
be He has sufferings for me to endure, and though the thought of
them almost makes me tremble, for the rod 1 have felt on this voy-
age has been hard to bear, and for the present grievous, yet will
his grace therein be sufficient for me. If he has neither work for
me to do, nor trials for me to bear, then iny course is almost done.
And it is no farther from this rough sea to heaven, than from the
soft beds, and the kind and soothing attentions of home ; and
never, I trust, either in this world, or in the world to come, shall I
regret that I have left father and mother, and brethren and sisters,
for the kingdom of heaven's sake.
I could wish I had a Christian friend near. Even this commu-
nion with you on paper, with - pen and ink," when I " have many
things to say," and can write but a very few of them, is refresh-
ing. How often I think of you! — of the hasty breakfast that
morning. How Reuben was like a silent cricket all the time ;
how .Tane burst into tears when I came away ; of the meeting in
the Mission rooms, and the kind friends there ; of the walk down
to the ship, when the sun shone out so clear ; of the crowd, and
the bustle, and the hurry there ; the parting-. I can see you yet,
waving your handkerchiefs for the last time ; brother John's last
blessing yet sounds in my ears ; and I think how poor Elizabeth
was watching over Samuel's sick couch at the time. Again, I see
you, and father, and Reuben. Now, the ship has moved, and I
see you no more ! It is too much. I do not often weep ; but some-
times : and yet they are not tears of sorrow, but of affection, and
fond remembrance. In this world there is partings and sorrow.
In this world there is perplexity and disappointment ; in this world
w^e "shall have tribulation." But in heaven there is no more
parting, and " no more sea ;" no more tribulation, for " sighing and
sorrow shall^ee away," not ^o away, but^ee away.
[The rest of this Journal was destroyed, as stated on page 130.]
156
MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
COURSES OF THE SEA QUEEN, HARMONY AND LONG BOAT.
LETTERS. 157
•
China Sea, June 27th, 1842.
Mr. John M. Lowrie —
My dear Cousin: — . . . I can, as yet, hardly enjoy the sight of
anything I see, for the overpowering conviction, that the inhab-
itants of these lands are wholly given up to idolatry, and all
going down to everlasting death. But I suppose in a few years, I
shall acquire a sort of familiarity with such things, and look on
them almost as matters of course. Here I am, urging my way
down the China Sea, against the south-west monsoon. For a few
days after coming on board, I felt very lonely indeed, but am now
somewhat more reconciled to it. But I was hardly long enough
on shore, (only three weeks,) to become ready for a month's con-
stant application to books, and it recpiires some skill so to diversify
my studies, as not to become wearied very soon.
In thinking over what would be most pleasant and profitable in
a letter to you, I cannot think of anything that would probably
suit you better than to give you some idea of my employment on
the voyage out. As you may have yourself to make a voyage of
the same kind before very long, it will assist you some in selecting
the number of books you will want, and helping you to form some
idea of Avhat you may be able to accomplish. We v.'ere one hun-
dred and twenty-seven days out. Of this I was sick a week, too
sick to do anything. Another week was spent in recovering from
sea-sickness, and getting in proper tune to study, ifcc, and another
week was taken from study by storms, anchoring at Angier, and the
like. This left about one hundred days that could be improved.
I preached every Sabbath except the lirst, and once in April, when
we had a storm, and commonly prepared the sermon in the week
beforehand. . . .
I had about six hours daily on an average for my own studies.
I may say here, that after the first two weeks, I spent near two
monthf^, with quite a zest in my studies. Then, as we were •' run-
ning down our easting," in Lat 40° south, we had a great deal
of very rough weather. After that the weather was warm ; and
I probably did less in the last two months, than in either of the
preceding two.
During the whole voyage, I read Genesis, and twenty-seven
chapters of Exodus in Hebrew ; this always before breakfast.
Went over Legendre's Geometry, and commenced Algebra ; but
found the Mathematics dry work, and gave them up. Read Edwards
on the Will, twice ; Hill's Divinity ; Neal's Puritans, — had read
half before, and finished now ; Symington on the Atonement ;
Winslowon the Spirit ; Smith on the Apostolic Succession ; about
half of Hume's England ; D'Aubigne's Reformation ; Jesse's Court
of England ; Bancroft's United States ; Carlyle's French Revolu-
tion ; Lockhart's Napoleon ; Two Years before the Mast ; The
Retrospect ; Phillips' Guide to the Perplexed ; Lyell's Geology ;
158 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Curiosity Shop ; Bainaby Radge ; Pickwick Papers ; Poor Jack ;
besides a good deal of miscellaneous reading, referencing, &c., and
writing a journal of some two hundred and forty pages, letter
paper, which 1 hope will be in mother's hands before you receive
this. In addition, I learned the names and the positions of the
principal fixed stars. This, I believe, comprises all I did, at least
I do not now recollect of anything more. It is not vanity that
has induced me to make this statement, for I do not think I did
near as much as I might have done, and I would not have men-
tioned it at all, but that it may possibly be of some assistance to
you hereafter.
I found our ship on some accounts a good place for keeping up
the spirit of piety ; on others, not so favorable. I was greatly
favored in the fact, that the first mate was devotedly pious. I
have seldom met a man more so ; the rest of our company were
all persons who regarded religion with respect. But in so small a
place, one cannot be alone. I never could pray aloud in secret ;
could with difficulty keep a day of private religious exercises ; and
sometimes could hardly even secure a short time for solitude and
meditation, except by shutting myself up in my little six feet by
four room, which, with the thermometer at 80° and above, was
not very pleasant. The mate was always ready and glad to talk
with me on religion, and many a pleasant hour did we spend,
leaning over the ship's side, with the stars shining above us, talk-
ing of spiritual things. But he, of course, could not counsel with
me in regard to the affairs of our mission, and it was chiefly in this
respect that I felt the want of a companion. The sailmaker, I
think, is also a pious man, and I had several very pleasant talks
with him. It has been on the whole a part of my life, to which I
look back with a very great deal of pleasure. I do not expect
often to spend my time with more of pleasure and profit combined.
I am now trying to study Chinese, but have not yet made a
sufficient trial to speak with any certainty of my prospects. From
all I could learn about it, however, from the missionaries and
others, I do not feel discouraged. But I must close. The blessing
of our common Lord rest on you evermore.
Your affectionate cousin,
W. M. LOWRIE.
China Sea, August 16th, 1842.
Rev. T. L. McBryde—
Mv Dear Brother : — I left Macao June 18th in the Sea Q,ueen
for Singapore. We expected a short passage down the China Sea,
and It never entered into my head, that we should be unable to
accomplish the voyage. But I have sorely found, that the Lord's
ways are not as our ways, nor his thoughts as our thoughts
After beating about for thirty-one days, we found our wood, water
and provisions growing short, and as the current was then so
VOYAGE ON THE CHINA SEA. 159
stronof that we could make no progress against it, we very reluc-
tantly turned about, (Aug. 11,) and shaped our course for Manila,
meaning there to refit. But our troubles were not over yet. The
wind, which had been directly in our teeth, when we tried to go to
Singapore, now, when we wanted to go the otlier way, first veered
about to S. E., and then fell a dead cahn, and for three days we
made very little progress. This, as you may suppose, was not
very pleasant. We were three Imndred miles from Manila, under
an almost vertical sun, and our water not likely to hold out many
days. It seemed for a while as though Satan had received permis-
sion to try us, somewhat as he did Job — first in our property, by
delaying our voyage, and then in our persons, making us to appre-
hend suffering from thirst. However, to-day things look rather
more favorably. We had hoped to be in Manila to-day, but these
calms have delayed us a good deal. A moderate monsoon would
carry us there in two days, but it may be a week yet before we
g^et in. I have no idea how long we shall remain there ; our cap-
tain is very undecided on that point ; perhaps a week or two weeks,
perhaps till the monsoon is over. In the latter case I am not able
to say what I shall do, or which course I shall take.
As you may suppose, this has been a good deal of a trial to me.
.... Besides, there has been tlie disappointment of being so long
delayed ; the fear lest you and Dr. Hepburn should become anxious
about me; the fear lest inconvenience should arise to our mission
from my detention, &c. And yet with all these drawbacks, per-
haps I ought to say through all these, I have scarcely ever spent
a time so profitably to myself. Being alone, at times in danger,
and in trial and temptation, I have been obliged to flee " unto the
rock, that is higher than I ;" to examine more carefully the book
and the ways of God's providence ; to commune with mine own
heart in solitude ; and to learn and practise patience, submission,
and the casting of myself, my friends, and the interests of the
church on God. I find myself a slow scholar, and too often am
like a " bullock unaccustomed to the yoke," yet I think I have
already found that " it is good for a man that he bear the )^oke in
his youth." And so fully am I persuaded, that all these things
shall yet work together for good, both to myself and the interests
of the church as connected with our mission, that I would not if
I might have them otherwise.
Few reflections are more consoling to a Christian than this,
that when he has diligently used all the means in his power to
serve his master, he may safely leave the result with him, who
overrules all things for his own glory. I should feel very unhappy
at present, were it not for the belief in the doctrine of an overruling
providence, which attends to all things, and without whose dis-
posal no breeze can blow, no current run, and no disappointment
occur. Whatever happens. He, who is " the Head of the
church." will take care of the honor and glory of his own name,
and we may well be satisfied with what he does, even though he
160 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
should not let us now kiww what his purposes are. Hereafter wc
shall know
Your brother in Christ,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Manila, September 1st, 1842.
My Dear Mother —
. . . When my journal comes to hand, which I hope it will before
very long, you will have a fuller account of the various adven-
tures and hair-breadth escapes, of the voyag-e from Macao to this
place. It is rough and uncouth in many ways, but it has been a
companion to me in loneliness and in dangers, and in pleasures.
It made me think of home and of friends when the storm howled
around me, and the billows tossed our ship as if they would over-
whelm her and us in the black gulf beneath us. It made me
think of home, too, in the calm sunset hour at sea, and it brought
the tears to my eyes more than once, as the quiet hours of the
Saturday and the Sabbath closed around me. I have laughed
over some of its little tales, and wept over others, and insensibly it
grew like a friend in whose welfare I was deeply interested, and
when I sat in my silent cabin and was sorrowful that I had no
friend to feel for me, or sympathize with me in my solitude, I
laid my hand upon its pages, and said, wait awhile ; when she to
whom it is addressed has read it, I shall lack no sympathy, and
the very anticipation relieved me. Thus, though in itself it has
small merit, yet its associations and nameless influences give it a
value in my eyes, that I trust will not be wholly wanting with
you.
The houses here cover a great extent of ground, and are two
stories high ; the ground floor is used for offices, storage, servants'
rooms, stables, &c., and the people live on the second floor. A
verandah from four to six feet wide runs all round the second story
of the house ; about four feet of the verandah from the floor is
boarded up, and the rest up to the eaves of the roof is occupied by
sliding frames, which are glazed, if I may use that word, with
mother-of-pearl shells, instead of glass. The shells are cut into
pieces about three inches square, and being semi-transparent, ad-
mit abundance of light, even when the verandah is all closed up.
Glass windows are not used at all, and as there is no winter here,
there are neither stoves nor fireplaces. Just before my window
there are two or three plantain trees, shooting up their broad leavee.
One of the leaves before me, I should say, is nine feet long, and
two feet and a half broad, of a beautiful green, and gently waving
with the wind. By the side of the plantain is an areka tree, with
branches of leaves of a much darker green, the branch of leaves
being about half as long as a single plantain leaf Haifa dozen
or more plantain leaves grow from the top of a plantain tree, and
half a dozen branches of leaves from the top of an areka tree.
VOYAGE ON THE CHINA SEA. 161
Among the leaves of the areka tree, a couple of little brown spar-
rows are now building their nest ; beyond these are a few tropical
plants, the names of which I do not know. By the side of the
house, in front of my window, flows a branch of the river Pasig,
in which I see a custom-house boat, with its sail-cloth awning ;
several bankas, or row-boats, with mat awnings ; several canoes,
and several heavy boats for carrying off cargo to the ships. On
the other side of the water are several houses, with their shell-
glazed verandahs, red tile roofs, and each house is surmounted by
a cross ; while over the roofs of the houses I see the high steeple
of the Binondo parish church, once white, but now blackened and
discolored by age, with grass growing out of the cornices, and
several bells in the cupola. One of the houses opposite is the place
for depositing cocoa-nut wine, where several large boats are load-
ing and unloading. This being a government monopoly, several
sentinels are keeping guard at the gates. This being one of the
hottest parts of the day, eleven o'clock, a. m., very few Europeans
are to be seen ; but there are a number of native men about. They
are very cleanly : dress consists of a pair of trowsers and a shirt,
which hangs outside, and either a handkerchief or a hat on the
head. They use a variety of colors for shirts and trowsers, but
always very clean. . . .
Yours most affectionately,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Manila, September 8th, 1842.
Rev. Thomas W. Kerr —
My Dear Cousin : — .... My situation here is as pleasant
as need be, except that I have nothing to do ; which, as you proba-
bly know, is hard work. This is the rainy season in the Phillip-
ine islands, and though it does not rain all the time, yet it does
rain every day. Consequently, the roads are in a wretched state,
and one can hardly go out at all. The merchants with whom I
am staying, are very polite and friendly ; but this is their very bu-
siest season, and of course I cannot expect them to leave their
business to attend to me. Nor indeed, if they were to leave it,
could they do anything more for me than they do. But, dear me !
what am I writing? The fact is, I have a touch of the blues this
morning, and am forgetting that I live like a prince here. This is
a delightful country ; a perpetual spring prevails, and the richest
fruits are found in abundance. I feast every day on oranges,
plantains, mangoes, custard apples, guavas, lancones, (fcc.
The islands are under the government of the Spaniards, but the
mass of the population are Malays. They are a very cleanly peo-
ple. I have never seen any more so, and when once you get used
to the color, which is very much like that of our Indians, they are
tolerably good-looking. They are all Roman Catholics, and very
much attached to their religion, but withal very superstitious, and
162 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOVVRIE.
exceedingly ignorant. A beautiful custom, if it were only scrip-
tural and sincere, neither of which is the case, prevails here among
the people, as in all Roman Catholic countries. At twilight the
church bells sound, everybody stops, and the streets which but a
moment before were vocal with the rattling of carriages, and the
hum of a thousand voices, become silent as a church. Each one
repeats an Ave Maria ; again the bells sound, and all move on as
before. I have sometimes in the evening been startled from a
reverie, by the sudden stillness, and on looking out, have seen the
streets crowded with motionless forms ; which, in a few moments,
resumed their business as noisily as ever. But it is all a mere form,
and has little or no influence on the heart. The priests are very
bigoted, and the Protestants residing on the island are not allowed
to have Divine service on the Sabbath, though no objections would
be made to their having a grand ball on that day. The Sabbath
is the great day for visiting and riding out, both here and in In-
dia, and in China. Oh, how I long sometimes for our quiet, hal-
lowed Sabbath days at home.
Farewell. Pray for me. You have but little idea, at home,
of the spiritual trials and privations of a missionary.
Your brother in Christ,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Manila, Sept. 14th, 1842.
Dear Brother — •
After spending about three weeks in Macao, and Hong Kong,
very busily, but very pleasantly, and accomplishing all that seemed
necessary at that tune for the prosperity of the mission, a rather
more than usually favorable opportunity of proceeding to Singa-
pore was otfered, which it seemed proper that 1 should embrace.
It was a clipper bark, built near Calcutta, expressly for the trade
between India and China, and intended to run up and down the
China Sea, both with and against the monsoons. It is probably
known to most persons, that the monsoons are periodical winds
that prevail in the Bay of Bengal, and among the islands that
separate the Pacific and the Indian Oceans. Those that prevail
in the China Sea, are called the North-east and South-west mon-
soons. The north-east monsoon is commonly preceded by about
a month of variable winds and frequent calms, and commences
blowing from the north-east steadily in October. It continues till
some time in April; then follows nearly a month of variable winds
and calms, and about the first of May the south-west monsoon
sets in, blowing till the middle or end of September, and sometimes
to the middle of October. This is the general division ; but these
winds are subject to great irregularity in their commencement and
termination. For example ; when we went up the China Sea in
May, in the Huntress, we expected to have had the south-west
raonsoon steadily, though gently, in our faVor ; but, to our great
LETTERS. 163
disappointment, experienced calms and light and variable winds
during the whole of that month. It was formerly thought useless
for vessels to attempt a passage through the China Sea, against
either of the monsoons, but of late years fast-sailing vessels, and
particularly clippers, and clipper-built ships, have very frequently
succeeded in making a passage in the course of from twenty-five
to thirty-five and forty days. In the year 1841, several vessels
passed down the Ciiina Sea, from Macao to Singapore, in the
months of June, July, and August, without any difficulty. Among
others, the captain of the Sea Q,ueen, in which I took my pas-
sage, who was then chief mate of another vessel, had made the
passage in thirty days, with delightful weather the whole time.
The prospect of another month at sea, after having just finished
a four months' voyage, was not very pleasant ; but the instructions
of the Conunittee and the state of the mission seemed to require
it, and full of hope, and anticipating a pleasant voyage, and safe
arrival at Singapore, I embarked in the Sea Q,ueen, June 18.
Our progress for two or three weeks, though slow, was still toler-
ably good ; and as nothing else of special interest occurred to
occupy my attention, I had an opportunity of learning something
of the character and regulations of a "country ship." This is a
term applied, not to vessels belonging to the natives of these
countries, but to vessels built in the East Indies, owned and com-
manded by Europeans, and manned by Hindus or Malays. The
greater part of them are built in India, of the teak, and other hard
woods of that country, and their cordage is made of the fibres of
the husk of the cocoa-nut. They trade principally between India
and China, touching, however, at the intermediate ports. They
carry rice, opium, and other articles to China, and return with
teas, silks, Chinese manufactures, and the like, to India ; fre-
quently making two, and occasionally three voyages in a year. . . .
It is of course necessary for the officers to acquire some knowl-
edge of the Bengali language, as the crew cannot be expected to
learn English. A very small smattering, however, commonly
serves thf^r purpose, consisting simply of the nautical terms neces-
sary for tlie regulation of the ship : {barra bras, mainbrace ; garva
hras, topsail-brace ; deman, sheet ; stringee, clewline ; bobber,
weather; barraka, sea, &c.) The serang and tindals are sup-
posed to know so much of what is needful, for the management
of the ship, as to require but little direction from the higher
officers
For ten days we made tolerably good progress ; we then had a
week of calms. Nothing is more trying at sea than a calm : yet
it is true that scarcely any siglit is so beautiful as that of the ocean
in a perfect calm, — provided it does not last too long. The water
then becomes of a blue color, as beautiful as that of a field of flax
in bloom : a few light or golden clouds float in the sky, or mirror
themselves in the sea : while all around the surface of the water
is calm, and smooth as glass, varied only by a heaving, as gentle
164 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
as that of a sleeping" infant's bosom. Now and then a faint hght
air causes a gentle simmer or a ripple on the water, like the smile
on an infant's face when dreams are pleasant in its soul. Espe-
cially is the sight beautiful in the evening, when the sun's last
rays are reflected from the resplendent wave, and a sea of liquid
gold seems to mingle with the bending heavens. I have sat by
the ship's side for hours, gazing around, and mentally exclaim-
ing: No earthly painter, and no earthly pencil, ever drew such gor-
geous, such delicate, and such beautiful scenes as these, and yet,
they are but transient reflections of that glorious place, where,
though " there is no more sea," such as here we cross, yet there is
a " sea of glass, clear as crystal," and that glass not frail and per-
ishable as ours ; but " pure gold, transparent as glass." Surely
to stand on that sea of glass, having the harps of God, and to
sing the song of Moses and the Lamb, will amply repay a few
years of toil, and disappointment, and suflfering, on the restless sea
of life !
Yet, beautiful as were many of the scenes witnessed in the
calms, nothing is more wearisome, and we were soon so tired of
them, that we wished for any other kind of weather. The S. W.
monsoon soon recommenced, and blew very strongly. The wea-
ther became unsettled, and during the course of a month, we had
almost constant gales, during which we lost our maintop-gallant-
mast, and had so many sails torn by the wind, that sometimes we
had not a topsail to spread. In addition to the strong wind and
heavy sea, (for three weeks we had not a dry deck to walk upon,
on account of the constant breaking of the sea over it,) we were
exceedingly embarrassed by adverse currents. Several days, when
we thought we had made tolerably good progress to the south-
west, we found, by observations, that we had actually been carried
ten and twenty miles to the north-east. If our ship had not been
almost i\ew^ she could scarcely have sustained the strain that came
upon her. As it was, it was necessary to have the men at the
pumps two or three times every day. As may be supposed, in
such circumstances, our progress was exceedingly slow. We fre-
quently lost as much in one day as we had gained in three or
four ; and after beating about for thirty-one days, we found our-
selves, August 11, only one hundred miles nearer Singapore than
on the 10th of July preceding
It has often been said, and with truth, that no trial which a
missionary experiences, is greater than that of being deprived of
the advantages of Christian society, and of the privileges of the
sanctuary. Such I found to be the case ; and it was difficult at
times to refrain from tears, when the Sabbath came round, and the
recollection of its peaceful and hallowed scenes at home rose be-
fore me, in contrast with the sohtude of the dark and foam-crested
waves, where, alone, I had no fellow-Christian with whom to wor-
ship God. Truly, " Blessed are they that dwell in thy house, they
will be still praising thee." But it was pleasant to think, and to
SHIPWRECK ON THE HARMONY. 165
experience that those who enjoy these external privileges, do not
monopolize all the blessing. " Blessed is the man whose strength
is in tliee, in whose heart are the ways of them." ....
Finding at last that we could not make head against the cur-
rents, and that our provisions were nearly exhausted, we very re-
luctantly turned about, and shaped oiu" course for Manila, where
we arrived safely, August 3d, sixty-six days after leaving Macao.
And yet, great as was our disappointment, we found abundant
cause for gratitude. The bad weather we had experienced had
extended over a large part of the China Sea. An English vessel
had been wrecked, not far from ours. Her captain aud mate were
drowned, and the crew obliged to go to Manila, in their boats.
Several other vessels had been driven back with damage, and al-
most all the vessels in Manila Bay had dragged their anchors,
while one or two of them were driven on shore. Yet we had es-
caped without any serious injury.
1 arrived at Manila a perfect stranger, not knowing even the
name of a single person here. There were no Protestant mission-
aries in the Phillipine Islands, and Manila is almost the only port
from Chusan in China to Calcutta in India, where I could not
have found persons whom I knew, or with whom, from similarity
of pursuits, I could not speedily have formed an acquaintance.
Yet I had not been ashore an hour, before I found myself most
perfectly at home in the house of Mr. Moore, a merchant from
Boston, and at present acting as United States vice-consul.
Such, dear brother, is my story. It may give you an idea of
some of the difficulties of the navigation of the China Sea, and
lead you to unite yoiu' thanks with mine for the goodness of God
which has so manifestly attended me
Your affectionate brother,
W. M. LOWRIE.
SHIPWRECK ON THE HARMONY.
Having engaged a passage from Manila to Singapore in the
Harmony, I went on board with the captain about noon, Septem-
ber 18, 1842. and found Messrs. M. and G., my two fellow-passen-
gers, already there. It was quite calm, and we did not start till
eight o'clock, p. m., when a fine breeze sprang up, and as the^
moon was shining brightly, we got under weigh, set studding-sails
alow and aloft, and went off in full sail. The ship was deeply
laden with more than six hundred tons of sugar, and drew nine-
teen feet of water. She was counted one of the fastest sailing
British merchantmen in the Chinese waters; but with such a
cargo the captain feared she would not sail as well as usual.
However, she kept up with the Cecilia, a swift English bark, and
not near so deeply laden. It was a lovely night, and everything
looked so favorable that we were all in high spirits, and had great
166 MEMOIR OP WALTER M. LOWRIE.
hopes of a speedy voyage. By daylisrht next morning* we were
fifteen or twenty miles outside of Corregidor, which was much
better success than we had allowed ourselves to anticipate.
It was quite calm during Monday morning : but in the afternoon
a breeze sprang up. The Cecilia had gone ahead of us; but
when this breeze fairly set in we caught up with her, and in three
or four hours had left her five miles astern. This settled the point
of the Harmony's sailing, and gave us great hopes of her future
performances. The breeze gradually increased to a gale, and on
Wednesday morning we were under double-reefed topsails, with
a tremendous sea astern. I was strongly reminded of the waves
in a gale off the Cape of Good Hope. The vessel being very
deeply laden, shipped a great deal of water: immense waves piled
themselves up several feet above the bulwarks, and came tumbling
in on deck, and the cabin was flooded with water several times.
I was standing by the cabin door once, when a sea came over the
ship's side, and before it was possible to escape, the water was up
over ray knees. The gale increased to a storm by noon, (Wed-
nesday,) and though we were going right before it, its violence
was so great that we were at last obliged to lie to, under a close-
reefed main-topsail, and foretopniast-staysail. Being from the
east, it had helped us on wonderfully in our course.
The gale moderated during the night, and the sun shone out
the next day, though the sea continued rough. Friday was a
pleasant day ; and my sea-sickness being now over, everything
was agreeable. Being now pretty well acquainted with the ship,
the comparisons I made between her and the Sea Giueen, in which
my last voyage was made, were by no means favorable to the lat-
ter. The Harmony was a superior vessel in every respect, except
that her cabins, though all on deck, were not so well ventilated
as those of the Sea Queen. But the masts, rigging, and sails of the
Harmony were stronger and neater. She was a better sailer ; her
crew were Englishmen, and her steward (an important considera-
tion to a passenger,) though by no means a neat, driving fellow,
was so far superior to the filthy butler of the Sea Queen, that the
two should not be named on the same day There were a few
cockroaches, but no ants or centipedes. Her captain was a stout,
hearty, good-humored Scotchman, with somewhat of the Scotch
pronunciation and accent. He was an intelligent and independent
man, a perfect sailor, full of sailor phrases, and as fond of his ship
as if she were his wife. He was kind and yet strict with his men,
and therefore liked and obeyed by them. He used no profane
language, (certainly never in my presence.) and was very atten-
tive to the wants of his passengers.
* We sailed on Sabbath, September 18th. It was Manila Saturtlaij and I ob-
served Monday, September lOtli, as Sabbath. The dav before had been observed as
Sabbath by the men wlio had nothhig to do except to get the sliip under weigh in the
evening. As we sailed on Sabbath the • morning" above mentioned was Monday
morning.
VOYAGE AND SHrPWRECK IN THE HARMONY. 167
Saturday, September 24, was a cloudy day, wind from the west,
and our course nearly south. The captain could not get an ob-
servation of the sun, but, by his reckoning, we were at noon in lat.
11 deg. 53 min. N., and long. 114 deg. 20 min. E. This was a
very unpleasant position, being but fifteen or twenty miles north
of the North Danger — a. small island, with not a tree on it, and a
reef all around, which marks the north-western limit of tlie dan-
gerous archipelago of shoals in the China Sea. Accordingly, every
effort was made to get to the westward, but the wind now became
unsteady, veering about so much, that it was liardly possible to
keep the ship on any course, except to the north-east, which was
directly contrary to the course we wished to go.
Sabbath morning (Sept. 25) was dark, cloudy, and squally :
there was a heavy sea, and a rolling ship, with frequent showers,
a hazy atmosphere, and exceedingly baffling winds. About ten
o'clock, A. M., the wind became steady at S. W. ; ship went off
W.N. W. five or six miles an hour, under double-reefed-topsails, and
the weather began to look less threatening. At noon the captain
came down and changed his wet clothes, being the third time
that day. and said the prospects were more favorable. We had
tiffin, and he remarked incidentally, that he had just been sending
men aloft, but no dangers were to be seen, as the sea was clear on
all sides. W^e were all in excellent spirits, and amused ourselves
with conjectures as to the probable length of our voyage. After
tiffin the captain took his segar and went on deck, and the pas-
sengers exchanged a few more sentences as to the time of arrival
at Singapore, and were about quietly reclining on the sofas to
read, when the ship struck against some obstacle with tremendous
violence. It impeded her onward motion in a moment. We
started to our feet ; again she struck, and again she reeled like a
drunken man. The deck quivered beneath our feet ; and on going
out we found the men running about, the officers giving their or-
ders, and the terrified steward groaning and wringing his hands
at the cal)in door. So violent were the strokes, that I was appre-
hensive of the ship being broken to pieces, and ran to get my life-
preserver. By the time I had it half inflated, the ship had beaten
over the shoal, and I went up on the poop-deck. The captain
had changed the ship's course, and I found him giving his orders,
and pacing the deck in great agitation. The shock had been so
sudden and unexpected, that he, as well as every one else, was
taken completely by surprise. I had scarcely time to speak to
him. or to reply to some observation that he made to me, when
the vessel struck again with even greater violence. The sea was
boiling in short uneasy waves on all sides, and we seemed to be
above some deeply sunken rock, on which the ship's boltom was
dashed every time she sunk in the hollow of the waves. Through
the violence of the blows, large pieces of her keel were broken off,
and rose to the surface ; and the copper was torn off in masses
from her bottom. At one time we could both see and feel the
168 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
middle of the ship rising up, while her stem and stern sank down.
In sailor's phrase, her "back was broken," and for a moment I
fully expected she would break in two.
It was an awful time: a strong wind; a heavy rain falling,
and an unquiet and restless sea ; yet there were no breakers and
no discolored waters— the usual signs of a shoal, — -and although
in the intervals of rain we could see at least ten miles on every
side, yet there was neither island, rock nor breakers in sight ; nor
any other sign of danger. Of this I am certain, for the captain
requested me to look round and see ; nay even when we were
upon the shoal we could see nothing, for I looked over the ship's
side when she was striking most heavily, and nothing was visi-
ble beneath the dark waters. Such shocks must be as dreadful
as those of an earthquake, perhaps more so. They were the
blows of an unseen enemy, and we could not tell at what mo-
ment we might receive another which should send us at once to
the bottom.
The pumps were immediately manned, and the water that
came up tasted sweet ; it had already reached the sugar in the
hold. On sounding the well three feet of watev was found. The
four pumps were kept constantly going, the main hatchway
opened and sugar thrown overboard to lighten the vessel, but this
was soon abandoned. Some of the men were employed in getting
the boats ready in case of emergency ; we packed up a few
clothes and valuables in as small a compass as possible, and
waited in suspense for the result. As you may well imagine, I saw
on my knees more than once. It was a solemn time : but my
mind was kept in a calm and composed frame.
We struck about half-past one, p. m. In less than an hour the
vessel had three feet of water in the hold. In two hours more it
had increased to six feet ; in less than another hour there was
seven, and in twenty minutes more seven feet and si.v inches ; and
this though the four puuips were kept constantly going, and all
drawing well. It was now near five o'clock, p. m., and it being
evident that the ship must sink, the pumps were abandoned and
the boats got ready. It was very providentially ordered for us
that the masts had not fallen when the ship struck so violently,
as, in that case, it would have been difficult to get the long boat
out. It was after dark, perhaps nearly seven o'clock, when the
boats were ready, and we found it a work of difficulty and danger
to get into them ; for with the heavy sea running they rose and fell
more than ten feet every minute. It was arranged that twenty-
one, including the captain and passengers, should go in the long
boat, and the mate and seven men in the jolly boat. We man-
aged to get in about seven o'clock, and pushed off from the ship.
She was then settling fast in the water, which was already nearly
on a level with her deck. The liglits were left burning in her cabin,
and the noble ship, which on that very day one year before coui-
menced her first voyage, was left a shattered, sinking wreck. We
SHIPWRECK OP THE HARMONY. 169
wanted to see her j^o down, but as the sea was rolling heavily,
wind high, and a drenching rain falling, it was neither comforta-
ble nor safe to stay by her, and we kept the boats before the sea
by means of small pieces of canvass. They had four oars in the
jolly boat, and we had had as many, but three of them were
broken in keeping the boat from dashing against the ship's side :
thus we found ourselves in the open sea, four hundred miles from
land, with only a single oar. A beavy rain fell almost constantly
till midnight, from wliich we could have no protection, and in a
few minutes we were drenched with the rain and the spray, which
every now and then dashed over us. The boat, with so many
persons in, was very deep in the water ; and to add to our discom-
fort and apprehensions, leaked a good deal, so that one person
was constantly employed in bailing her out. About midniglit the
wind and sea abated somewhat, the clouds dispersed a little, the
moon dimly glimmered in the sky, and we kept on slowly to the
north. Owing to the weather 1 had slept almost none the night
before, and exhausted with want of sleep, anxiety and fatigue, I
managed to rest a little towards morning, though how or where
it would be hard to say.
On Monday we rigged a couple of masts, and mth a royal stud-
ding-sail, and main-skysail, which had been thrown into the boat,
we mustered a very respectable foresail and luainsail, using our
whole oar, and one of the broken oars for yards. The boat was
then lightened, by throwing overboard everything that could pos-
sibly be spared ; the baggage and provisions were packed as neat-
ly as possible, and a man and boy taken in from the jolly boat,
which made our whole number nineteen men and four boys ; a
large number for a boat only twenty-one feet long, and eight feet
broad. The provisions were then examined, and we found there
was bread enough to last a week or ten days, but that we had a
very small quantity of water. There could not have been more
than eight or ten gallons. This was a cause of no little anxiety,
for by our calculations we could not be less than four hundred
miles from Manila, (whither we now directed our course,) and at
that season of the year, calms, and even head winds, which would
make our passage long, were not unlikely to occur. Accordingly
all hands were put on an allowance of half a pint of water daily,
and bread in moderation. The water was served out twice a day
in a Clip which held a gill, and all drank out of the same cup.
I had put a little keg of crackers on board, which kept dry when
all the rest were wet with rain and salt water, and also a small
box of raisins, which proved very acceptable. We had a few
cheese and some cocoa-nuts, the milk of which served us for two
days, thus making a great saving in our little stock of water.
This (Monday) was a tolerably pleasant day. Pieces of can-
vass were nailed round the sides of the boat to keep out the spray,
and having a fair light wind, we made some progress on our
course. The sun shone out brightly in the afternoon, and dried
170 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
our wet clothes, and most of us slept \\ ill that night. We began
to cherish hopes of arriving at some la id ere long.
Tuesday was a terrible day. Not a cloud in the sky ; scarcely
a breath of wind, and the hot sun of the torrid zone beating full
upon us. There was but one umbrella in the boat, and we could
not hoist an awning : but being sunburnt, and even blistered, was
the least evil. Half ^ pint of water on such a day, when tanta-
lized by the sight of an ocean of water, so clear but so salt, was a-
small allowance, and I almost prayed to be swallowed up in the
raging sea, rather than be suffered to linger in so dreadful a con-
dition. Yet there was no murmuring, and we all kept up our
spirits.
As the jolly boat sailed much faster than ours, it was thought
best she should go on ahead. She could be of no service to us,
nor we to her, by keeping company, and by going on, she might
escape danger, and even find means of assisting us. Accordingly
slie left us this afternoon, and we afterwards regretted deeply that
she had not done so sooner. This night I slept badly ; the bag-
gage had been shifted to put the boat in better sailing trim, and
there was not room to place one's self comfortably ; lying down
was at any time out of the question, for want of room. A fine
favorable breeze sprang up soon after dark, and we made good
progress.
On Wednesday the breeze became stronger, with a heavy sea.
We went rapidly on, and in our lonely course found amusement in
watching the large flocks of boobies that in some places almost
covered the sea. They came around us in great numbers, and
alighted on the yards, and even on the sides of the boat. In his
eagerness to catch one the boatswain fell overboard, affording us
all a hearty laugh at his expense. Several showers fell near us
about dark, and we hoped to have caught some water, but could
not. Slept miserably. In the part of the boat where I was,
which was about six feet by eight in size, there were four persons
to sleep, and one constantly employed in bailing out the water.
Thursday morning commenced with rain, which soon wet us to
the skin ; but we did not mind that, for we caught several buckets-
full of water, which, in the low ebb of our water-cask, gave us great
joy ; and we ate our breakfast in high spirits. For fear of suffer-
ing from thirst, I ate but little, seldom taking more than three
small crackers a day, and a mouthful of cheese with a bunch of
raisins.
From the progress we had made the night before, we had great
hopes of seeing land eitlier to-day, or early on the following, but
we soon began to think of otiier things. About ten o'clock the
wind rose, the sea ran very high, and frequent squalls of wind and
rain darkened the heavens and drenched us to the skin. The
captain sent the best helmsman to the tiller, and sat down himself
by the compass, and for eight long hours he did not move from
his seat. Conversation ceased ; and scarcely a word was uttered
SHIPWRECK OF THE HARMONY. 171
in all that time, except the orders from the captain to the helms-
man, " Port ! Port your helm, quick ! Hard a-port ! Starboard
now ! Mind your port-helm," &.c. Many a longing, anxious look
did we cast before us to see if there \\ ere any signs of land ; but
still more to the west, to see if the gale gave signs of abating.
But no ! Darker and darker grew the heavens over us ; higher
and higher rose the sea ; louder and louder still roared the waves
as they rushed past our little boat, and faster fell the rain. If a
single one of those waves had come over the boat's side, it would
have overwhelmed and swallowed up the boat, and every one on
board ; and it was only by the utmost care and skill that she was
kept before them.
Death never seemed so near before. An emotion of sorrow
passed through my mind, as I thought of my friends at home who
would, probably, be long in suspense in regard to my fate ; and of
regret, as I thought of the work for which I had come ; but for
myself, my mind was kept in peace. I knew in whom I had be-
lieved, and felt that He was able to save ; and though sole)mi is
the near prospect of eternity, I felt no fear, and had no regret that
I had perilled my life in such a cause.
Thus the day wore away, and night approached without any
signs of more moderate weather. The wind was now so strong,
and the sea so high, that it was with the utmost danger that we
could hold on our course. Everything was wet, and we tried in
vain to get a light for the compass ; besides, by our calculations,
we could not be more than thirty or forty miles from land ; and at
the rate we were going, should reach it about midnight; but to
attempt to land in such a sea, in the dark, would be madness it-
self. What could we do? Backwards, or sideways, we could not
go, on account of the sea ; to go forward was to throw our lives
away ; to remain where we were, even if it were possible, seemed
to be remaining in the very jaws of death. It was, however, our
only hope, if hope it could be called, and accordingly preparations
were made for heaving the boat to. The foresail was taken down,
and securely fastened to the yard; the largest cord we could mus-
ter (about thirty fathoms) attached to this and to the boat. The
mainsail was then lowered, and watching our opportunity, the
foresail was thrown overboard, cord paid out, and the boat's head
turned to the wind. This last was a most perilous operation ; for
had a wave struck her while her broadside was exposed to it, all
would have been over with us. The plan, however, succeeded
admirably. The little foresail being between the wind and the
boat, it served to break the force of the waves ; and as it lay flat
on the water, it was not acted on by the wind ; and thus served
also as an anchor to keep the boat's head to the wind. We then
had the mainsail hoisted up in the form of a staysail, to keep the
boat steady, and thus we were hove to.
For a while, the result was very uncertain. The wind howled
past us with a force that made every plank in the boat quiver ; the
172 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
rain fell in torrents, with the violence of small hailstones, nearly
all the night ; and we could hear the great waves as they formed
and rose away ahead of us, and then rushed toward us, with a
sound like the whizzing of an immense rocket. Sometimes tliey
would strike us as if with a heavy hammer, causing the boat to
jump bodily away ; and then again, their white, foaming, phos-
phorescent crests would be piled up by our sides, as if, the next
moment, they would dash in and overwhelm us in an instant.
There we lay, packed together so closely that we could scarcely
move ; while every now and then, a dash of spray came over us,
covering us with pale phosphoric sparks that spread a dim and
fearful light for a few inches around. Oh, it was a dreadful night!
There was distress and perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring,
and men's hearts failing them for fear.
Not one of our company, I will venture to say, had any expecta-
tion of seeing the light of another day. For myself, I thought
deliberately of each and every member of our family, and breathed
a silent farewell to each : of many of my friends by name, of for-
mer scenes and seasons : of various missionary fields, and offered
prayers for each and all : of my own past life, and of the certainty,
for so it then seemed to me, that in a few hours I should enter on
the untried realities of which I had so often thought. I know not
that my mind was ever in a calmer state, or that I could more de-
liberately reflect on what I wished to fix my thoughts upon : and
though I could not feel those clear convictions of my safety I have
sometimes felt, yet my faith was fixed on the Rock of Ages, and
death seemed to have but few terrors for me. In such a night, and
with such expectations, it was wrong to sleep ; and though be-
numbed with the rain and cold, and almost exhausted for want of
rest, 1 did not close my eyes during the whole time. Many pre-
cious Scripture truths passed through my mind; such as — '-When
thou passest through the waters I will be with thee, and through the
rivers, they shall not overflow thee," which I applied to myself in a
spiritual manner ; lor, situated as we were, I could scarcely expect
to have them literally fulfilled. I know not when I felt more
strongly the delightful sublimity of the expression, " He holdeth
the waters in the hollow of his hand," or the feeling of security
even for the body, which for a moment it gave me.
As you may suppose, there were few words spoken, and the only
sound we heard, besides the wind and rain and the roaring sea,
was that of the boys bailing out the water. Towards two or
three o'clock in the morning, (by our conjectures, for we had no
light to see with,) the wind and sea seemed to abate, and finding
we shipped very little water, we began to hope that our lives might
yet be spared. The morning slowly dawned, but as it dawned the
wind and sea increased. As soon as we could see, the foresail was
hauled in and hoisted to the wind, and the mainsail spread, and
we commenced again our perilous course. Soon the cry, " Land
ho !" was raised, and when the morning had fairly dawned, we
SHIPWRECK OF THE HARMONY. 173
saw it stretching- along right before ns, about ten miles off. We
must have been driven many miles during the night to be so near
it. Soon our hojDes were greatly excited, for the land had the ap-
pearance precisely of that about the entrance of Manila Bay.
We could see what Ave took to be Point Hornos, Mount Mariveles,
the island Corregidor, and the Lora Mountains; and we were filled
with joy at the prospect of so soon ending our voyage.
We steered directly for the land, meaning to get behind some
projecting point, and wait till the sea became calm. Meanwhile,
however, the wind and sea rose again ; the heavens became black
behind us, and there was a great rain. To our sorrow, also, we
found that we had mistaken the land, for none of us had ever seen
it before. But it was too late to go back, the squall was upon us;
and though the rain fell so fast that we could not see more than
twenty yards, yet on we must go. There was a little island on
the right, and the captain was on the point of steering the boat so
as to get round under its lee, when we saw heavy breakers right
ahead. We turned off to the left, though at an imminent risk,
for this brought our broadside to the sea, and several liglit waves
dashed over us. There were breakers on the left too, but we were
directed in a channel between them, and rounding a projecting
point of rocks, we saw a little cove sheltered from the wind, and
as smooth as an inland lake. Soon our Ijoat touched the bottom,
only a few yards from the shore. We jumped overboard, secured
her by ropes to two or three trees, and we were safe ! It was a
time of joy. With one consent, we gathered together under the
trees, and offered up our thanksgiving and praises to God, with
prayers for future assistance and protection. It was a scene wor-
thy of a painter's skill, — our little boat fastened to the trees, our
scanty baggage piled upon the shore, and ourselves under the
custard-apple trees, standing with upturned faces, while the rain
dropped upon our bare heads, as we lifted up our voices, and I
trust our hearts also to that God who had held the winds in his
fist, and the waters in the hollow of his hand, and had brought us
through dangers which we never expected to survive. It was well
we came in when we did, for it was then high tide, and a few hours
later the channel through wliich we had passed, was itself one
mass of breakers. Our boat would inevitably have been dashed
to pieces there, and some, if not all of us, would have perished
among the waves.
After all due attention to our boat, and having refreshed our-
selves with biscuit, raisins, cheese, and plenty of water^ (for there
were several streams only a few yards from our landing-place,) our
next care was to find where we were. We knew it to be an island,
for as we came in we had seen land at a great distance eastward,
which we supposed to be Luconia : but we were not certain whether
we were nurth or south of the entrance of Manila Bay. From a
little point hard by tlie landing-place, we saw a telegraph station
on a hill, and thus concluded that the island was inhabited, and
174 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
probably by Spaniards. Accordingly, Captain Smith, Mr. G., (who
spoke both Spanish and English,) and myself, started to discover
what we might. Chun Sing brought me a cutlass that had been
saved in the long-boat ; but being a man of peace, I told him to
take it to the captain, and armed myself simply with a walking-
stick. Thus accoutred, we set off; but Mr. G., weakened by ex-
posure and want of food, broi<:e down in less than three hundred
yards, and declared he could go no further. He went back to the
company we had left by the boat, and the captain and myself
went on alone to the telegraph station. We found it deserted.
Thence we kept on, and soon saw a bullock tied by the nose, a
pile of boards and some paddy fields ; sure signs that inhabitants
were near. We were now joined by about a dozen of the sailors,
two of whom had cutlasses, and the rest walking-sticks, and a
Portuguese, who had been in the long-boat, and spoke a little
Spanish and English. Altogether we were a remarkable looking
company, and being high in spirits from our late wonderful escape,
we went on right merrily, save that our mirth was often checked
by allusions to the other boat. We all thought she was lost, judg-
ing it impossible she could have weathered such a gale, and that
all on board must have perished.
Finding a narrow path we followed it over a hill and down a
little valley, and presently came to a pumpkin field, in which was
a little native house, and some Indians eating boiled pumpkins.
They very kindly gave us some, and one of them who spoke
Spanish told us there was a village about a mile off, where the
Resguardo, (an officer under the Spaniards,) would receive and
entertain us. He went along to show the road, and off we went,
but instead of one mile it must have been three. We crossed hills,
went through valleys, picked our way among bushes, through
mud half-knee deep, and along the sea-shore, fording a great
many small brooks, and being wet several times with rain ; but
we were used to the rain, and did not regard that. The sand got
into my shoes, and I had to go barefoot most of the way. We
passed several natives cutting wood ; met several riding on bul-
locks, one of whom was so polite as to take off his hat when he
saw us ; and at length came to the village. It was a collection of
some twenty or thirty huts by the sea-shore, and all the windows
and doors of the houses were crowded with women and children,
who gazed at us as if we had fallen from the skies.
Our guide led us to the house of the Resguardo, when who
should come running to meet us but Mr. Fillin (the mate) and
one of the men who had gone in the jolly-boat. " Oh, captain,"
said the former, "is this you? How many of you are saved?"
"Thank God, we are all safe, but I thought you were lost ! Are
you all alive ?" " Tve lost four men, sir .'"
They had arrived in sight of land the previous afternoon about
four o'clock, and when some four miles off, a tremendous sea came
upon them, turned the boat clear end over end, and threw them
SHIPWRECK OF THE HARMONY. 175
all into the sea. Two or three clung to the boat, but were washed
off by the waves; another (the best swimmer in the ship) tried to
swim ashore, but must have been dashed against the rocks and
carried out by a back current ; while the mate and this other man,
taking each an oar, had made for the land, and succeeded in get-
ting ashore, through the surf, though with great difficulty and
danger. Mr. F. was much bruised and cut about the feet by the
coral rocks, and for two or three days was scarcely able to move.
They had spent the night upon the rocks near the place where
they landed. The next morning they found their boat and the
oars, but saw no signs of their companions. They then started
to find a house, and after several hours of very laborious walking,
arrived at this village, only half an hour before we did, and were
just telling the people they supposed all the rest of the ship's com-
pany were lost, when we came in sight. It was a joyful, yet a
sorrowful meeting.
Tlie people of the house received us kindly, and gave us hot
coffee, eggs and sweet cakes, which, in our condition, dripping wet
and cold, were very acceptable indeed. After coffee they gave us
cigars. The house was crowded full of people, old and young,
to gaze at us, and a big Manila bloodhound in the corner gave us
surly growls by way of music. It was Friday, Sept. 30, when
we landed. We stopped in the village of Loc, island of Luban,
at the house of Sehor Nicolas Perralta, the chief man of the vil-
lage, and an Indian, there being no Spaniards on the island. We
stayed there two days, and were treated with much kindness by
Sehor Perralta, who gave us his own best room for our lodging.
It was not furnished with beds, but we slept on the bare and not
very even floor with much comfort, when we compared it with
the crowded rough bottom of the long-boat. The inhabitants
were poor, and we bought our own provisions, which our own
cook and steward prepared for us.
But my story is growing too long, and I must draw it to a close.
We remained in Luban two days ; then hired a potine, or native
schooner, with"mucho mulos velos !" amazingly torn and rag-
ged sails, for $100, in which we left Luban on Sabbath morning,
Oct. 2, for Manila, (according to Manila time, which we then
used, it was Saturday.) We reached Manila about two o'clock,
p. M., the next day. The silly captain of tlie potine had almost
wrecked us again in a squall off Corregidor at midnight, and had
it not been for Captain Smith's presence of mind, who sent one of
his own men to the helm, and took connnand himself, we should
certainly have been cast away on the rocks of Point Limbones.
Mr. and Mrs. Moore and Mr. G. Sturgis were seated at the
fruit table when I re-entered their house. For a while they could
scarce believe their eyes, and it was not till I spoke that they could
believe it was the same person who had left them only two weeks
before in full hope of a speedy voyage to Singapore. They re-
ceived me most kindly. Great was the sympathy expressed by
176 MEMOIR OP WALTER M. LOWRIE.
all classes in Manila. The news of our shipwreck and wonderful
escape spread like wildfire, for every one had seen and admired
the Harmony, and every one knew and hked her captain. I re-
ceived my full share of sympathy ; but as an offset to this, had
also tlie satisfaction of hearing thai many of the sailors in the
harbor attributed the loss of the vessel entirely to her having that
clergyman on board ! The long-boat was visited and in-
spected by many in Manila, who could scarce believe it possible
that twenty-three persons had been stowed away in so small a
space ; and iiow we weathered such a gale, which was severely
felt in the roads at Manila, where many ships had dragged their
anchors, was a wonder to all. Captain Cole of the Delhi, a large
American vessel, which had been obliged to lie to in the same
gale, told me he considered our escape little less than miraculous.
Indeed the more I have heard of the ravages of that gale, the
more am I astonished at our escape. During the very time we
were most exposed to its fury in the long-boat, a Spanish vessel
was driven ashore on Luconia and lost, and the Conrade, an
English vessel, was thrown on her beam ends, dismasted and
finally foundered, while one-half her crew were drowned.
When I look back and consider how many wonderful circum-
stances conspired to secure our safety in the midst of most immi-
nent danger, it is hard to believe that it has been a reality. It
seems, even now, like some terrible dream from which I have
hardly yet awaked.
It was most providential for us that the ship struck by day, and
not by night ; that her masts did not go overboaru when she
struck, as they certainly would have done, had she not been a
new and strong vessel ; that we got safely into the boats in the
dark with that heavy sea running ; that we had provisions enough,
and sails when our oars were broken ; that we weathered that
severe gale ; that by daylight we were so near the land ; that we
escaped the breakers by coming in at high tide ; that we found
that little sheltered cove ; that we met such kind treatment at
Luban ; that we arrived safely at Manila, notwithstanding the
dangers of Corregidor, and that none of us (so far as I know)
have suffered any serious inconvenience from so much exposure
to sea, and sun, and wind, and rain. All that I experienced was
a soreness in my limbs and a slight fever for several hours after
we landed on Luban. I cut me a walking-stick the day we left
that, island, which has been mounted and sent to my father as a
memento of that wonderful deliverance, and I am sure that you
and all our family will join me in the prayer, that the life thus
spared may be devoted to Him who first gave it to me, and now
has rescued it from the engulfing sea ; that though I shall not
attain to the eminence of that Moses who was drawn out of the
waters, I may yet, in some humble degree, be like him — a leader
to rescue God's chosen people in China, and lead them like a flock
in the green pastures of his Holy Word. •
RETURN TO MANILA. 177
I must not omit to mention two other items of great importance,
in whicli the hand of God was manifested for our preservation;
the first was that the cord, which, by means of the foresail, held
the boat's head to the wind, did not chafe or give way, notwith-
standing the constant strain upon it. We were very apprehensive
of this, for it was not as thick as a man's thumb, and our lives
seemed to depend upon that little cord. The second was that the
heavy gale we had on Thursday and Thursday night was from
the west. Had it been an easterly gale, like the one we experi-
enced in the same place only nine days before, it would either have
entirely overwhelmed us, or else have sent us half way to Cochin
China. Even the heavy rain, uncomfortable as it was, tended to
our safety, for it kept the sea from raging as it would otherwise
have done. A heavy rain has something of the efiect of oil on
the waters. It keeps the waves down.
As so many persons were to go in the long-boat it was impossi-
ble to save anything, except absolute necessaries and valuables of
small size. All I saved, therefore, was my watch, my pencil case
given by Mr. B., what little specie I had in the vessel, (about $100
in gold.) the clothes on my back, and a few other articles of dress,
my Bible, and my cloak. Everything was wet through by the
rain and salt water, except my Bible, which I had taken the pre-
caution to envelop in the thick fold of the cloak, and which was
thus only slightly dan)p. Everything else was abandoned. For-
tunately I had but a small part of my books with me, perhaps
one-fifth. Among these were all my Chinese books ; a volume of
Flavel, which I prize above its weight in gold ; a number of valu-
able papers, and all my written sermons. With my clothes and
other articles thus abandoned, were some parcels sent from the
missionaries in China to their friends in Singapore, Bangkok and
Malacca.
Arrived at Manila, it was with some difficulty I could muster a
suit of clothes to "go ashore." I had my coat and pantaloons, a
pair of slippers, a shirt without bosom and collar, a pair of woollen
stockings, and a cap that barely covered my head. I had no vest,
but that was concealed by b-ittoning the coat ; collars are not in-
dispensable, and I borrowed a rusty black cravat from Capt. Smith,
who happened to have two or three. In such a suit, with my sun-
burnt face, (from which the skin all peeled off in a few days,) my
Luban walking-stick, and my cloak on my arm, I set foot in Manila
again. But I was among kind friends. Mr. and Mrs. Moore sup-
plied every want.
I was at some loss, then, what course to take, but finally thought
it best to return to China. Mr. Elgar, the brother of Mrs. Moore,
gave me a free passage to Hong Kong, in a vessel of which he was
part owner, and for that place I embarked October 10th, with seve-
ral fellow-passengers. When we left Manila, in the Harmony, the
port-captain, who came off to give the ship her clearance, was very
merry, and said to me, " Ah, senor padre, vergas cesar senor
178 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Moore !" (Ah, sir priest, you only came here to marry Mr. Moore.)
But when he came to give the Diana her clearance, his manner
was quite altered, and almost melancholy, as he said, " Ah, senor
padre, no otro matrimonio ! no otro matrimonio !"
We reached Hong Kong safely, though after a rather rough pas-
sage, on the 17th of October; just four months after I had left
Macao for Singapore. Through what varied scenes I had passed,
yet out of them all the Lord delivered me. In the Sea dueen I
had an opportunity of studying the first part of Acts xxvii. From
my experience on board the Harmony, I have come to a better
understanding of the latter part of the same chapter.
" Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for
his wonderful works to the children of men. And let them sacri-
fice the sacrifices of thanksgivings, and declare his works with re-
joicing. They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business
in the great waters, these see the woi'ks of the Lord, and his won-
ders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy
wind, which liftelh up the waves thereof. They mount up to the
heavens, they go down again to the depths ; their soul is melted
because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a
drunken man, and are at their wits' end. Then they cry unto
the Lord, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh
the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then they
are glad, because they be quiet. iSo he bringeth thern to their de-
sired havenP
W. M. LOWRIE.
Hong Kong, November 9th, 1842.
To THE Second Presbytery of New York —
Fathers and Brethren in the Ministry : It is now just
one year from the time when I received the solemn rite of ordination
at your hands. Although nothing was said to me in reference to
holding a correspondence with you, yet I have thought it would
be agreeable to you to receive occasional communications from
me ; and I am sure it will be profitable to myself to receive the
advice, the warning, and the encouragement, which your let-
ters to me would contain. Far separated as I now am from the
kindly influences of a Christian land, and finding but few among
the few Christians near me, who care particularly for the disci-
pline of our beloved Church, I shall highly prize, and. I trust, profit
by, anything that shall remind me of my connection with a branch
of the Church, whose doctrines I consider as founded on the Scrip-
tures of truth, and whose form of government I have always pre-
ferred as being the most scriptural and the most practically useful.
Surrounded as you are by influences that bear upon this subject,
you can hardly conceive how necessary it is for us who are sep-
arated from you in these ends of the earth, to have our minds
stirred up by way of remembrance, by communications from the
LETTERS. 179
ecclesiastical bodies with which we have been connected in our
native land.
The members of the Presbytery are probably all aware that ray
departure was delayed much longer than was anticipated after my
ordination. The time thus spent in the United States was not
wholly unemployed, as I had several opportunities of preaching on
various subjects, and presenting the cause of foreign missions in
several churches. I left New York in the ship Huntress, January
19th. The whole number of persons on board the vessel was
thirty-one ; and to these I had the privilege of preaching once
every Sabbath on the voyage, with the exception of two days,
when ill health and stormy weather prevented. The attention
manifested was remarkably good almost all the time. After land-
ing at Macao, May 27th, I preached twice in that place, and once
in Hong Kong, daring the three weeks I then spent in Cliiiia.
Following the instructions of the Executive Committee of the
Board of Foreign Missions, I left Macao June 19th for Singapore,
and have not, since that time, had more than one opportunity of
preaching the Gospel. The vessel in which I left Macao was
manned by persons who did not speak English. After being de-
tained in her by contrary winds for sixty-five days, we were
obliged to go into Manila for provisions. I remained in Manila
about a month, but owing to the jealousy of the Roman Catholic
priests had no opportunity of preaching there. There has never
been a Protestant service on the Phillipine Islands.
The vessel in which I left Manila was shipwrecked, and the
passengers and crew were obliged to escape in the boats. For
four days and five nights we were on the deep without shelter,
and part of the time " we despaired even of life." After several
very narrow escapes, we arrived safe at land. Nothing but the
hand of God could have delivered us from the imminent dangers
to which we were exposed ; and I trust the Presbytery will join
with me in the prayer that the life thus spared may be more en-
tirely devoted to the service of God than ever before. I then re-
turned to this place, where I arrived October 18th, and have since
that time been busily employed in making arrangements for the
permanent location of our missions in Cliina. Thus far, however,
little has been done. The Providence of God has, during the past
summer, greatly hindered the plans both of myself, and of each of
my colleagues in the mission, and at times we have felt almost
discouraged. I trust, however, that matters are now in a fair way
to be settled, and hope yet to see the Presbyterian Church in
China joining with sister churches in spreading the pure light
of the Gospel over this long-benighted empire. But how great is
the work ! and how few are the laborers ! while the propagators
of error are many and strong. The country is opening wider and
wider every day, but there are few to enter.
Fathers and brethren, allow me to suggest to you, and through
you to the churches over which you are placed, a few ideas that
180 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
have occurred to me while contemplating the field I am sent to cul-
tivate, and a few facts which have fallen under my own observation.
Of the importance of speedily communicating to China the
light of the Gospel. I suppose no doubt can be entertained. This
is admitted by all, and, for more than thirty years past, efforts have
been made to accomplish, or at least to commence this work. The
contest of the Gospel with error, has thus been going on for many
years, and has been watched with interest by at least a few ; but
is there not reason to believe, that the Christian church is carry-
ing on this contest with far less vigor than she ought? Nay may
I not affirm, that instead of coming up to the help of the Lord
against tlie mighty, almost the whole Christian church has been
slumbering in regard to China, and manifesting a most culpable
inattention to the whole subject? It may assist our views, to con-
sider for a moment the present state of affairs in China. The
eyes of all the world are turned to this empire at this moment,
and the facts that I mention are known to all. There is then, at
this time, a two-fold contest going on in China. One is conducted
by the British nation, the other by the Christian world. The ob-
ject of the former is to open China for commercial purposes, in
order that a market may be found for manufactures and produc-
tions, and a mine be opened from which the inhabitants of other
nations may dig stores of this world's treasures, which all perish in
tlie using. The object of the latter is to overthrow the power of
Satan in this empire, to scatter the beams of Heaven's own light
on the thick darkness that envelops it, to save the souls of our
brethren who inhabit these ends of the earth, and to increase the
declarative glory of our glorious God and gracious Saviour, by the
building up of a holy temple to his name, where Satan's seat now
is. Suppose that in each of these contests the results aimed at
should be gained, will any one say that the former are of equal
importance with the latter? Will any one look far down into the
ages of eternity, and estimating the value of the results as they
then appear, seriously affirm that the former deserves half the
labor and sacrifices and expense that the latter does ? Surely not.
Yet how are these contests carried on ? I wish I could show you
what I now see before my eyes. The door of the room where I
am writing commands a full view of the city and harbor of Hong
Kong. I can point you to tens and hundreds of houses, large,
massive, and expensive, erected more or less directly to further the
first contest ; but I can point you to only five erected to carry on
the second, and of those five only two are finished. In the har-
bor I can point you at this present moment, to no less than four
ships of the line, several other vessels of war, and nearly fifty
transport ships, sent at great expense from the other side of the
world, filled with men and valuable stores, commanded by able
and experienced officers, to carry on the first contest, and these are
hardly a moiety of the ships and men and money employed: but
when you ask, where are the ships and the men employed in the
LETTERS. 181
second? alas, I can hardly answer you. I take my glass, and
slowly scanning the large fleet before me, at last point out to you
a merchant ship. " In that vessel a solitary missionary went to
Ainoy and Chusan during the last summer, to prepare the way for a
station at one of these places, but as yet he has not fixed upon any
spot." By the side of that vessel is another ; " In her, a few
months since, three missionaries went to Amoy, where they now
are." By the side of that vessel is another ; " In her one mission-
ary with his wife, expects before long to proceed to Chusan."
Are these all? Yes. Out of the hundreds and thousands that
have left this harbor since May of this year for the northern ports,
only these five were missionaries ; only these five have gone, or
are going, as the representatives of the Christian churches in Eng-
land and America. Lest any one should charge me with conceal-
ing a part of the truth, 1 must add that two other missionaries
were previously stationed, one at Amoy, and one at Chusan.
These seven are aU that are engaged for the northern ports, while
in Hong Kong and Macao, are in ail only nine more. These six-
teen are all that the whole of the churches of Protestant Christen-
dom have now employed in China, to carry on the great contest
between Christ and Satan ; while the English nation alone has
employed this year, more than fifteen thousand persons to secure
some few commercial advantages ! Has the Christian church
done her duty towards China?
Some men talk of the immense sacrifices of life and money, in
carrying on the work of missions ! Why, the English government
has spent more money and lost more men, during this last year of
her contest with China, than the whole Christian church has done
in any ten years, in all the heathen world together ! From the
room where I sit I see the burying-ground, and evenmg after even-
ing, as the sun goes down, I hear the solemn martial nnisic, and the
last salute fired over the new-made grave of one, and another, and
another, who have died of wounds received, or diseases contracted
in the civil contest of the past year ; while during that time, but
one of those engaged in the other contest, has gone to her long
home. Fathers and brethren, are you prepared to say that while
so much has been done for purely worldly ends, and so little for
purely spiritual objects, the church in general, or yourselves in
particular, have done all that should be done for China? Do you
still wonder that so little has been done to Christianize the mass
of this great nation ? and yet I have not told you all that is dis-
couraging, nor even what is most so. It is sad to see so little good
done, but still sadder to see so nuich error propagated. From the
room where I sit, I can see almost every house in Hong Kong;
and what, suppose you, is the most conspicuous object there ? A
Roman Catholic church and monastery ! These buildings, from
their commanding position and large size, being the largest in
Hong Kong, are the first that attract a new-comer's attention;
more money has been expended on them during the past twelve
182 MEMOIR OF "WALTER M. LOWRIE.
months, than on all the buildings of all the Protestant missiona-
ries in China ! Would that this were all I had to say, but I have
more. The Roman Catholic missionaries in China are more than
ten times as numerous as the Protestants, and they are receiving
large annual accessions, while with us the number of accessions
scarcely equals the diminution by death and removals. While a
single Protestant missionary was struggling to maintain himself
in Chusan during the last year, nine Roman Catholic priests came
and settled there at one time ! When I was in Manila, in Sep-
tember, fifty-tw.o Roman Catholic priests arrived there from Spain
in a single vessel, some of whom will probably find their way to
China. There are hundreds, aye, and thousands, of Roman Catho-
lic priests in the Phillipine islands, who could be transferred to
China almost at a moment's notice ; but where, where shall we
look for Protestant missionaries for this great empire? I do feel
at times discouraged ; my heart does at times sink within me,
when I look back to my native land, and hear how few are will-
ing to come out ; how few are earnest in prayer for us ; how few
act as if they believed the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, " It is
more blessed to give than to receive."
Since, then, the work is so great, since the laborers are so few,
since men of this world are so zealous to secure a little more of
this world's goods, since the disseramators of error are so numerous
and so rapidly increasing, I call upon you, my fellow-workers in
the ministry, and co-presbyters in the Church, to use your influ-
ence in furtherance of the cause of Christ in China. It is but a
little time we have to labor, and we have no time for trifling or
delay. Could you but see the half of what I see every day, — -the
idols under every green tree, and on every high hill ; the incense
and offerings burnt to the devil ; and the thousand unnamed and
nameless proofs of the prevalence of mind-debasing and soul-ruin-
ing idolatry ; you would need no inducement to urge you on to
greater diligence and exertion. Pardon the freedom that your
youngest brother thus uses. I am sometimes sad, and my heart
is sometimes sick within me ; and therefore I thus write. Pray
for me, teach your people to pray for the heathen, and for your
brethren that labor among them. I hope to hear from you soon.
In the meantime, I remain your brother in the Lord,
W. M. LoWRIE.
Macao, December 9th, 1842.
My Dear Mother —
.... I am lonely, and am besides rather perplexed with the af-
fairs of our mission. However, I do not think it will be so long,
and besides I trust I have learned to say-^
I sure
Have had enough of bitter in my cup,
To show that never was it his design,
LETTERS. 183
Who placed me here, that I should live at ease,
Or drink at pleasure's fountain. Henceforth then
It matters not, if storm or sunshine be
My future lot -, bitter or sweet my cup ;
I only pray, God fit me for my work !
God make me holy, and my spirit nerve
For the stern hour of strife ! Let me but knovir
There is an arm unseen that holds me up,
An eye that kindly watches all my path
Till I my weary pilgrimage have done.
December 13th. The Sea Q,ueen has at last arrived at Singa-
pore after being out forty days from Manila, and in all one hun-
dred and twenty from China. I am glad she has got there, but
hope to be excused from ever making a passage in her again. The
navigation of the China Sea is exceedingly uncertain. A vessel
which left Macao August 16, arrived in Singapore October 16,
being sixty days on the way. Another vessel, an American, which
left Macao October 8, arrived at Singapore October 18, being only
ten days on the way ! I mean to patronize American vessels
hereafter. I have been greatly struck with that text, " It is not in
man that walketh to direct his steps." The reason why I went in
the Sea Queen rather than in the Oneida was, that it was expected
that the former would arrive much sooner than the latter. I should
have got to Singapore and might have come back in the same ves-
sel to China almost as soon as I did. She left China nearly three
weeks after the Sea dueen, got to Singapore before we got to
Manila, stayed there two months, and came back here in November.
It might have altered the whole course of my future life, had I
gone in her ; and would probably have saved me an amount of
suffering, bodily and mental, that few are called to endure in so
short a time. But what is past cannot be recalled, and though I
have suffered, I should rather say because I have suffered, I trust
I am a wiser, and a better, and an humbler Christian than I was ;
and if I am not happier now, I may be hereafter, on account of
what has happened.
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
... I am at present just like a man who has stopped at an inn,
to wait for letters to direct his future course, and often feel very
deeply that " I am a stranger in tlie earth." Of one thing, how-
ever, I am truly glad, nothing has yet occurred that makes it
necessary that I should leave China, or that makes it at all proba-
ble that I shall have to do so ; there is scarcely anything that I
dread more than the idea of leaving my missionary work. . . .
I remain affectionately yours,
W. M. LOWRIE.
184 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Macao, December 17th, 1842.
My Dear Father —
The Bazaar arrived here to-day from Singapore, of which I was
informed by having a packet of letters sent to me. Opening it, I
found letters for Mr. Buell, Mr. McBryde, Dr. Hepburn, and, to
my great satisfaction, two for myself, one of which was from you,
dated May 12th. I read it very speedily, and could hardly refrain
from tears as I did so. Had you known precisely my feelings at
the present time, you could hardly have written anything more
appropriate than its conclusion. It was written to encourage me
in trials, and to point me to the sure source of consolation. Trials
have come upon me within the last twelve months, wave after
wave, and each one, like Job's messengers, more severe than the
preceding, and for awhile I thought I could hardly sustain them.
My leaving home was a trial, but for that I was prepared by long
expectation, and sustained by special communications of grace.
My delays in the Sea Queen, and the exceedingly unpleasant ac-
commodations there tried me much more severely ; but it was
profitable, and taught me many useful lessons, the benefit of wiiich
I experienced when shipwrecked in the Harmony. Besides these
outward trials, I have experienced much anxiety in deciding on
the best course to be pursued in relation to the China mission.
In these circumstances you can scarcely understand how much I
was encouraged by that train of thought which connects our tribu-
lations here, and our poor weak services, with the glory of the Sa-
viour, and the inconceivable displays of his wisdom, justice, love,
and mercy, as manifested to the universe on the judgment day !
.... The Foreign Missionary pleases me much. I determined,
soon as I saw it, to write something for its pages, and hope to be
able to send you some little articles soon.
As to the brethren who have decided not to come out here with-
out wives, I suppose the best way is for each one to be well per-
suaded in his own mind. I have seen enough to make me think
that most missionaries ought to be married, provided they can get
suitable wives. If they are not provided in that respect, by the
time they are ready to leave, and there is a call for their services,
it might be a question whether they are not called to go out alone.
As far as I am personally concerned, I am satisfied that the course
I took was the best, and I should probably act in the same way,
if in the United States again. . . .
Affectionately your son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Macao, December 24th, 1842.
My Dear Mother —
Yesterday was a happy day for me. You know how I have
been disappointed hitherto about getting my letters. They had
LETTERS. 185
all gone on to Singapore, and when the Bazaar came up, and did
not bring them, I was afraid that I might have a longtime to wait
yet, before they came to hand. Yesterday morning Mr. Bridge-
man's servant came over from Hong Kong, and brought me a
packet that had been sent there by mistake. I opened it, and be-
hold, one, two, three, foin*, yes, fourteen letters, from father and
mother, and John C, and EUzabeth, and John M. I put up my
Chinese books in all haste, and sent off to tell my teacher he " need
not come to-day," and then — did not I have a feast? You do not
know what a letter is worth in the United States. When you are
separated only a few hundred miles, and have regular mails, it is
nothing very special to have a letter once a month or so. But
when the sun is shining on you, while your friends are sleeping
on the other side of the world, ah, that is a different thing. My
first emotion was one of sincere gratitude for such a favor ; and
my second, perplexity which to open first ; and 3rou would have
been amused could you have seen me, while I was readitjg. Some-
times I laughed till the tears came into my eyes ; sometimes a
sentence brought other tears, and yet not tears of sorrow these ;
and sometimes a sigh escaped me, as I thought of the blasted hopes
and disappointments implied in some of the various items of news
that met my eye. I seemed to be among you again, and lived
over the day of parting, and the few preceding weeks. And yet,
eleven months and more have passed since then ! and what re-
markable things have happened in that time ! at least to m)^self,
for as far as I can gather, you have had but few important changes
since I left.
If you think I am going to be tired of the length and common-
placeness of your letters, how am I to suppose you will receive my
voluminous journals and letters? Inasmuch as I have the vanity
to suppose tiiat the latter will be all read, notwithstanding their
prodigious length, you need not suppose I shall " skip" any of
yours.
.... I am well, and contented, and happy, though still some-
what lonel}^, and occasionally perplexed. My future movements
are still uncertain.
With much affection, and many fond remembrances,
I remain truly yours,
W M. LOWRIE.
Macao, December 27th, 1842.
James Lenox, Esa. —
My Dkar Sir : — I have lately received, by the Bazaar, a volume
of the British Reformers, which vay father informs me is from
yourself. The receipt of it gave me much pleasure, not mer^'ly
on account of the intrmsic worth of the book, but principally be-
cause it assured me I was still kindly remembered in a family,
with which my intercourse, though short, was very pleasant.
186 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
A missionary to China, I find, has need of a good many qualifi-
cations ; and at present it seems probable that one quahfication of
which he will find peculiar need, is a thorough acquaintance with
the writings and spirit of the ancient reformers from Popery. One
of the very greatest difficulties with which we shall have to con-
tend, will arise from the opposition of the Roman Catholics. It is
impossible to say how many native Roman Catholics there are in
China. Probably the accounts their priests give of their numbers
are exaggerated ; but it is certain there are many. Their priests,
too, are far more numerous than the Protestant missionaries ; and
being all unmarried, and many of them zealous, and active, and
enterprising, they bid fair to go far ahead of Protestant missions.
I do not think that their celibacy is any advantage in the long run,
nor would I wish to see many unmarried Protestant missionaries
here ; but a few of the right spirit are greatly needed. If we had
some twenty or thirty single men, of thoroughly cultivated minds,
and prepared to submit to trials and privations to which a lady
ought not to be exposed, I should not, humanly speaking, be much
afraid of the contest with Popery in China. At present, however,
there is no prospect whatever of such a band coming out to join
us ; and the few who are here are scarcely able,— indeed we are
not able, — to occupy the ports already thrown open, but must
stand still and see the Popish priests go, not two and two, but by
sixes and tens, and establish themselves in every place where a
foothold can be gained. Already they iiave erected a bishoprick
at Shanghai, though I have not heard that a single Protestant
missionary is going there. I do not think that many of the priests
in China, or in that swarming Romish hive, Luconia, are men of
much ability, or of extensive acquirements. Some of them, how-
ever, are ; and they will easily make up in numbers what they
lack in mental culture, while the perfect subordination of their
system gives them advantages which we look at, but cannot hope
to equal. There is, indeed, scarcely anything in reference to
China that gives me so many distressing apprehensions as the
activity of the Romish priests, contrasted as it is with the apathy
of Protestant churches in England and America. England has
only three, and America only thirteen missionaries actually in
China; and if the whole number laboring for China were col-
lected, they would not amount to thirty, of whom not more than
one-half are qualified by acquaintance with the language for effi-
cient labor. It is true that the God we serve is able abundantly
to produce the greatest effects by the fewest and simplest means,
but the time does not seem yet to have come when a nation shall
be born in a day; and till that time comes, perhaps I should say,
in order that it may come, we must use means in some degree
proportioned to the results we hope for. But I have filled up my
sheet with what, perhaps, will not be very interesting to you. I
had no intention of writing at all on this subject when I took up
my pen, but the mention of the British Reformers led my mind to
LETTERS. 187
a subject that often has a painful interest to me. I cannot see
throu^li it, but I feel that we who labor in China will have ^reat
need of the " faith and patience of the saints" of olden times, if
we expect to maintain our standing here against the last efforts
and ]on<T-piotracted dying agonies, for such I believe they will be,
of the man of sin.
I often think of you, and of the pleasant Sabbath I spent at
New Hamburgh. It would give me great pleasure to hear from
you at any time ; a letter, in these ends of the earth, is an object
of great value. . . .
I am, with much respect and esteem, truly yours,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Macao, December 29th, 1842.
My Dear Father —
Since my letter of December 17, sent by the Delhi. I have re-
ceived yours of February 22 and March 12, May 3, and June 4,
for all of which I am under very great obligations to you. It is a
little remarkable, that though you have probably less time for
writing than any of the family, yet you have written more than
all the rpst of them put together, and given me more news. Many
particulars in your letters have interested me very deeply, particu-
larly those concerning;' the funds, and your efforts to increase them,
and your accounts of Princeton students, and the prospect of more
missionaries. As to the former subject, I fear it will be many years
before the Church comes up even in a moderate degree to her duty.
Indeed, I have long thought, that the present generation of Chris-
tians will never do all that mav be expected. As long as a Chris-
tian man is allowed to give five dollars for his annual subscription
to the missionary work, and the next day buy fifty dollars worth
of tulips, and yet retain his standing in the church, I have little
hopes of seeing the right spirit prevail. I have thought, therefore,
for years, that our hopes are in the Sabbath schools. None are so
easily interested in missions as children, and none may be so easily
trained to proper principles as they. I have sent by the Akbar
four letters to Sabbath-school children. They are just such as I
used to speak to the children of my Sabbath-schools, and nothing
that ever I said interested them so much. They are intended for
the Foreign Missionary, and I shall probably send some more soon.
If they are judq-ed suitable, I can furnish a good number of them
graduallv. Of course orisrinality is not the main thing in such
articles, although I know that to four-fifths of the Sunday-school
children, in our churches, even to those at your very doors, the
facts I have slated, and may yet state, will possess all the fresh-
ness of some new discovery. I have seen a whole school staring
with eyes and mouth both, at the narration of the commonest
facts in regard to the heathen ; and it is mainly for want of early
instruction and training in regard to the facts and principles of
188 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
missions, that you find it so difficult to bring the churches to give
freely of their substance to further them. This opinion is formed
on a more thorough knowledge of the real state of the case, than
is generally possessed. I hope to send soon some thoughts on this
subject, founded mainly on facts that I have seen, and inferences
that seem to me lo be justly drawn from them.
In regard to the students at the Seminary, I am greatly pleased
to hear that so much of the proper spirit prevails among them.
Nothing further occurs to me in reference to the propriety of men
waiting for wives, when they are in other respects ready to start,
in addition to what I have said before. I should be sorry to do it,
but let every man be well persuaded in his own mind I
am very anxious to have and here. I knew them both,
particularly the former, in College, and know of none at present in
the Seminary, so well qualified for this field. After we are fairly
established here, we can find work and places for a good deal of
variety in the character of our missionaries. At present, however,
we are very much in need of some six or eight of the " first chop;"
as a Chinaman would say, " No. 1, good;" and until we are estab-
lished, others would be rather in the way.
.... I propose to study Chinese pretty diligently for the next
three months ; by that time I hope to hear from you, and to know
definitely who is coming, if anybody, and when. After that I may
have to go to Hong Kong, as all the missionaries will probably
leave this place in March.
With much love for yourself and all the family,
I remain your affectionate sou, W. M. Lowrie.
Macao, December 29th, 1842.
Mr. John Lloyd —
My Dear John : — Though I have several friends, who, if they
knew I were writing to you, might think they had a prior claim
to yours just now, yet the associations and recollections of this
day lead my mind most strongly to yourself; and though I have
written one letter of some length to you since I came out, yet I
feel as if I wanted to send another. . . .
This day is the anniversary of my spiritual birth ; eight years
ago to-day ! What would I not have given eight years ago, to
have been assured that I should persevere thus long in the Chris-
tian course ? If any one had shown me all the temptations and
trials I was to experience in that time, and then assured me that I
should survive them all, and be the better for them, I could scarcely
have believed him. Yet it has been so, and having obtained help
of God, I continue to this day, and humbly hope, that tlirough
him I shall persevere even to tlie end. I trust he has taught me
to look upward both for strength and for happiness, and more so
lately than ever before. My soul doth, therefore, magnify the
Lord.
LETTERS. 189
I spent the greater part of this afternoon in reading over your
letters. I wish I had yourself here to talk to, for I sometimes feel
a little lonely; especially as both my colleagues are at present at
other stations, and it will be some little time before we can get
together.
So many things crowd upon me, that I hardly know what to
write about. I could easily tell you a long story of adventures
and perils, and strange sights and scenes, and wonderful deliver-
ances, but I have not time for that, and you will probably see
some of them in the Chronicle. Many of them I must reserve for
your private ear, " when we meet in Pekin, China," as you said
in one of the letters I read this afternoon. I am now de-
voting some five oi' six hours daily to Chinese; and though as
yet I have made little progress, (it is only a month since I com-
menced it regularly,) yet I feel somewhat encouraged. It will be
long, however, 1 fear, before I can speak it at all ; and I fear that
at best. 1 shall have to speak " with stammering lips and another
tongue, to this people." Owing to uncertainty as to my future
location, I have thought it best to commence the Court dialect,
(commonly called the Mandarin,) which is not spoken, except by
the literati and public officers. My progress will, on this account,
be slower at first, but I think more rapid, steady, and successful in
the end.
I know you are anxious to know how I feel about matters and
things in general, and though it is yet too soon to speak definitely,
yet to you I can speak freely ; for you will know how to account
for it, if I should afterwards change my opinions. So far, my fears
have been mostly disappointed, and my expectations more than
realized. I think that for two or three years before leaving the
United States, I had as little romance in regard to missions, as
any one could have, who had never been actually on heathen
ground. Consequently I have not been disappointed. Parting with
friends was a sore trial, but I had so long expected it, and prayed
for sustaining grace, that I found it far less difficult to bear than
I had anticipated. It was a great relief to me that it was quickly
over. The ship left the wharf at half-past twelve, and I was truly
glad that none of my friends came with me to the Hook. I have
at present no wish to return. Since I landed in China I have, as
you are aware, had a pretty full share of trials. Now no chas-
tisement for the present is joyous but grievous. So I found them.
Nevertheless, although the remembrance of them is yet fresh, and
the unpleasant effects of them still continue to a degree, yet from
what I have already felt, I am fully assured that "afterwards they
shall yield to me the peaceable fruits of righteousness." In gen-
eral the year, (it is nearly a year,) which has past since I left New
York, has been one of the happiest I have ever spent ; and I now
look back on it with as much satisfaction as any other equal por-
tion of my life, perhaps I should say with more satisfaction. I
came out almost unwillingly. 1 felt loath to leave a field I had
190 MEMOIR OP WALTER M. LOWRIE.
long desired to occupy : I have not found everything here arranged
as I desired, nor have I been able to accoinphsh all that I wished.
I have been in unpleasant society : I have suffered in body : I
have hung in the jaws of death for hours together, not expecting
to live from one moment to another : I have been obliged to wait
for months and months for letters from home, and I am now in a
station where I have no colleagues in the same mission, and do
not expect to have for some months ; and yet with all these ad-
verse circumstances, I am glad I came, and pray that I may be
suffered to remain. The work is great ; there is plenty of it. A
wide and effectual door is opened, there are few to enter, while
the enemy is very busy sowing tares. 1 do not think there is that
promise of immediate usefulness here that there is in many other
places. I hardly hope to see such churches formed here soon as
have been formed in Africa, and in India, and in the islands of the
sea. Indeed, I may never have the privilege of seeing any Christian
church formed here ; yet, notwithstanding all this, I think the
prospect of usefulness is very great indeed ; and for men of the
right spirit and qualifications, who are willing to wait for the fruit
of their labors till they enter heaven, if it be their Master's will
that they wait thus long, I know of few fields so inviting. At
present, T think the great difficulty is the language : but every year
this difficulty is becoming less, as new facilities in the way of books
for its acquisition are being prepared, and places are opened where
free intercourse with persons who speak it in its purity is allowed.
In a few years I think it will not be considered a very difficult
task for persons of good common sense, perseverance, and ordinary
abilities to acquire it. At present, however, let nobody who can-
not study Latin and Greek, and who is subject to the dyspepsia,
come out to China. They had better go elsewhere. Such being
my views, dear brother, I have some commands to lay upon you, —
the first and chief of which is, get ready to come out here as quick
as you can. I am going to write to father, and tell him to catch
you by the back of the neck and put you down in the hold of one
of Mr. Olyphant's ships, if you ever talk of going to any other part
of the world. I'll take charge of you out here. Seriously, though,
I want you and to come out to China ; and if either of
you do not come, I shall expect a very satisfactory and length-
ened communication from you, showing good reasons for not
doing it. I speak of you two in particular, because I think
you as well qualified as any of the missionary students I know
in the Seminary, for this field. The second command is, to
pay considerable attention to the Roman Cathohc controversy ;
you may find need for it here. Thirdly, in regard to wives ; if
you can get good ones, get them by all nieans ; but I beg you not
to delay coming for want of them. Shall the heathen perish, and
your period of active labor, short at best, be rendered still shorter,
because you cannot come alone to labor, where merchants spend
their ten, twenty, and thirty years, in cehbacy, for the sake of
LETTERS. 191
gain? . . . Spend your vacations in looking' for wives. (Dr.
advice to the contrary, notwithstandino',) but do not keep the ship
in waiting. I do not know how I shall get along without one.
There is at present no prospect of riiy getting one, but lam not
sorry that I took the course I did in this matter. My opinions
may change hereafter ; when they do, perhaps I'll tell you.
I could write much more — indeed, I feel loath to stop, but I
must write another letter or two to-night, as the vessel goes soon.
Dear brother, how often I think of you, and long to see you !
The memory of joys that are past is sweet to my soul.
That the richest of heaven's blessings may ever rest upon you
is the prayer of
Your brother in Christ,
W. M. LOWRIE.
CHAPTER V.
1843.
KESIDENCE IN MACAO — VOYAGE UP THE COAST — DESCRIPTION OF AMOY AND
CHANG CHOW — RETURN TO MACAO.
In the early part of the year, Mr. McBryde and his wife were
obhged to leave China on account of the faikue of his health;
and in the summer, Dr. Hepburn and his famil}^ arrived at Macao,
fi-om Singapore. Mr. Lowrie spent his time chiefly at Macao,
engaged in the study of the Chinese language, and preaching on
the Sabbatii to the American and European residents of that
place. In August he commenced a voyage to the north, with the
intention of visiting all the newly-opened cities, to make inquiries
as to their relative advantages for missionary labor. His descrip-
tion of Amoy and Chang Chow, will be found in the following
journals. Proceeding from Amoy to the north, owing to contrary
winds, the voyage was slow, and they were several times driven
to seek for shelter on the coast, by stress of weather. After al-
most reaching Chusan, the vessel was driven back by the north-
east monsoon, and the voyage was then relinquished.
In the mean time the Executive Committee had decided to oc-
cupy three stations in China, — one in the Canton province, one
at Amoy, and the other at Ningpo or Shanghai, as might be
found most eligible. Dr. Hepburn was assigned to Amoy, and
after being once driven back by a severe gale, he reached his
field of labor in October.
During his residence at Macao, the correspondence of Mr.
Lowrie with the Executive Committee at home was very full, and
contained much information of great service to them in deciding
on the various questions relating to the missionary work in this
great field of labor. Active preparations were made by them
during this year to send out a large missionary force, which will
be noticed in the proper place.
At the close of this chapter will be found a proclamation of
LETTERS. 193
Sir Henry Pottinger, "Her Britannic Majesty's plenipotentiary,
&c. (fcc," censuring tlie visit of Messrs. Abeel and Lowrie to the
city of Chang Chow. This proclamation, and the letter to the
Chinese authorities, are extraordinary papers, in more respects
than one. They were uncalled for,— no complaint had been
made, and Sir Henry himself became the informer. They were
insulting and arrogant, for he censures American citizens, who
were in no respect amenable to him, or subject to his jurisdiction.
They were based on a false assumption, for the supplementary
treaty had not then been published, and no law or regulation had
been infringed. The inference that they passed themselves for
Englishmen was equally gratuitous, and was contradicted in the
very account that drew forth his impotent rebuke. There is some-
thing ludicrous, moreover, in the charge that two unarmed and
peaceable men had forced their way among fiftv thousand men,
and there bearded their highest officers. Mr. Abeel Avas absent,
and the duty devolved on his associate in the alleged trespass,
to assert their rights as American citizens, and to decline the ju-
risdiction so arrogantly assumed. Had he used much stronger
language, few of his countrymen would have been displeased.
Macao, January 27th, 1843.
Rev. John M. Lowrie —
My Dear Cousin : — The greatest difficulty now is with the
language I am by no means discouraged, and, if my life is
spared, hope that I shall yet be permitted to do something in this
great field. But alas for these millions that are going down to
death! Who shall break unto them the bread of life? There
are only sixteen Protestant missionaries actually in China, and
the half of these know too little of the language to be as yet of
any direct service. Like the two loaves and the little fishes, what
are these among so many ? Oh for the presence and blessing of
that Saviour who can midtiply the bread of life, thus spread be-
fore the nmltitude, till they shall all eat and be filled !
It requires a great deal of faith and grace to be a missionary.
Here I am away from Christian privileges, and precluded, in great
measure, except by writing, from opportunities of direct usefulness;
removed from the kindly influences of Christian public opinion ;
surrounded by everything that is calculated to deaden the Chris-
tian graces; and engaged in a study in itself exceedingly dry. and
which, in addition, promises to keep me for several years before I
can call myself a proficient. I know not how I shall bear up
against these adverse influences. Hitherto the Lord has sustained
me, and I know that his grace is still more than sufficient. Thus
194 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
far I have enjoyed great peace of mind and satisfaction in my
course. Tlie only thing I have to complain of, is my want of
more love to God, and zeal in his service. Oh, it is a sad thing
to see these poor heathen blindly going on in their errors, and yet
not be able to say a word to warn them of their danger. This is
especially sorrowful, because this sense of inability is apt to make
one careless. It is a temptation that conies with strong force at
times, "Since you can do nothing, why trouble yourself about their
condition ? Why should you feel sad, when your sadness will not
help them ?" Yet it is not so ; because, if the heart is affected for
them, it wjll prompt to greater diligence in laboring and praying
for them.
The thirtieth of this month is the Chinese new year — a time of
great festivity and rejoicing, of firing of crackers and ottering of
incense, of sending presents and displaying finery ; and the people
around seem to be making great preparations. Nearly all the
shops are gaudy with tinsel and pictures, and gaily painted lan-
terns, and toys of various kinds, though there is not nearly so
much show and display here as in Canton.
My impressions of China, as a field of labor, have been much
improved since I came out here ; and after we once get free access
to the people, I do not think the language will be found to be a
very formidable obstacle. It will always be difficult, perhaps more
so than any other spoken language ; but I am inclined to think
its difficulties have been greatly overrated. The tones, which are
now so formidable, will, I think, be found to present but few diffi-
culties, when the restrictions to free intercourse with the people,
which have hitherto been so great, are removed. But prayer and
patience, as Elliot says, will accomplish all that is needed, though
in each of these I am but too deficient.
You will see from this letter, how much my thoughts are run-
ning upon one subject. Indeed, I do little else but think about
the language, to which I give the best part of each day. I com-
monly commence about nine o'clock, and study as constantly as I
can till four, p. m. ; though there is always an hour or two of in-
terruptions. I do not think it wise to give more time than this,
though I often feel as if I should like to live in Chinese. Pray for
me ; I am in great need of help from above.
With best wishes, I remain.
Your affectionate cousin,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Macao, February 3d, 1843.
My Dear Mother —
Why does not the Morrison come in ? We have heard three
weeks ago by overland mail, that she was to leave September 17.
If so, she ought to have been here ten days ago. I have gone up
to the upper terrace in our garden every day, and looked out to
LETTERS. 195
see if any ship was coming in ; but not one. She ought to bring
three months' later news, and letters in any quantity.
I often wonder what sort of letters I shall get, when the news
of my disasters shall have reached you. For a while my letters
went like Job's messengers, each one worse than the one before.
Whether the worst has come yet, I do not know. Generally I am
quite cheerful, and the little folks take great liberties with me, to
my great " contentation." But sometimes I am melancholy, often
sad, and occasionally an undefined anxiety clouds my mind.
Who knoweth what a day may bring forth ? After what I have
already experienced, how can I tell whence the next storm shall
arise ? But the " Lord reigneth. Let the earth rejoice." Here-
after we shall see perfectly
Truly yours,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Macao, February 24th, 1843.
My Dear Mother —
.... I have just heard that Mr. Canfield [of the African mis-
sion,] is dead. This was unexpected and most distressing news,
though I never thought that either he or Mr. Alward would endure
that climate as well as I probably would have done. If the hand
of God's providence had not so remarkably brought me here in
spite of myself; and preserved me through dangers, when time
and again it seemed as though I should be overwhelmed in the
waves, I should almost wish that I had gone to Africa. The
curse seems still to rest on Africa. Ethiopia stretches out her
hand, but her teachers are removed far off. She still sits in dark-
ness. Oh that light may speedily arise upon her ! At times I
can hardly help wishing myself there, if it were only to escape the
drudgery of this terrible language. Yet I do not see much reason
for discouragement so far ; counting up the other day, I found my-
self master of more than six hundred characters, which, for only
three months' uninterrupted attention, is pretty good progress;
better than I expected. By the time the Chinese tailor " rubs a
crowbar down to a needle," I hope to understand the language
pretty well. But when will that be?
February 25th. Saturday night ! How many, many thoughts
of former days and former joys crowd around me, as I lay by my
books and papers, to prepare for the coming Sabbath ! How the
time rolls on ! It seems but a day since the ship left the wharf,
in my own native land ; yet more than a year has flown away,
and I have passed through scenes that make me feel as if many
years had been crowded into one. I have seen joy and sorrow
since that time. I have felt my heart vmlifted as on eao-les' wings,
and again it has sunk to the earth. I have looked upon the ocean
when calm as a sleeping infant's slumbers. I have laid my hand
upon its foam-crested waves, and felt that a half-inch plank and
196 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
a slender cord alone preserved me from going down like lead in
the mighty waters. I have seen plan after plan fail, and hope
after hope disappointed. I have stood a solitary stranger amidst
thousands who spoke a different language, without being able to
utter a word that they could understand. Again and again have
I been taught to say, " I am a stranger in the earth." Yet, with-
al, liglu has arisen to me in darkness, joy has come to me in sor-
row, and liope has sprung up after disappointments ; for "tribula-
tion worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience
hope, and hope maketh not ashamed." The love of God is shed
abroad upon me, by the Holy Ghost, and the grace of Christ is
sufficient for me. Would I go back? no! Do I regret that I
came? no! Lonely I am at times; sorrowful often; perplexed,
but not in despair ; cast down, but not destroyed. The past is
gone, but its pleasant remembrances and painful lessons remain ;
and deeply as some of them have been felt, already I can say,
" The sunshine to the flower may give
The tints that charm the sight,
But scentless would that flow'ret live
If skies were always bright.
Dark clouds and showers its scent hestow,
And purest joy is born of woe."
The future is still future, long or short, happy or mom-nful, " all
to me unknown ;" but I know what is far better, " The Lord
reigneth, let the earth rejoice." . . .
Yours affectionately,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Macao, April 9th, 1843.
My Dear Mother —
.... Saturday night again ! more than one-fourth of this year
is already gone. It sometimes seems to me that I shall welcome
with joy, the time when the shadows shall stretch out and the
evening draw near. Yet how soon it may come ! Three weeks
ago, Mrs. Dean had as good prospects of long life as any of us ;
but the grass is already growing over her grave, and her labors
and toils are over forever. She is in the haven, while her fellow-
voyagers are still buffeting with the stormy sea. She is singing
before the throne, while we hang our harps upon the willows and
weep. Farewell.
Affectionately yours,
W, M. Lowrie.
Macao, May 14th, 1843.
My Dear Mother —
... It is Sabbath night, and though I do not often write letters
on this day, yet occasionally I feel it a privilege to spend a part of
LETTERS. 197
this day in epistolary correspondence of a particular kind. 1 do
not do it for the sake of saving time, but on the same principle
that would induce me, if in America, to diversify the exercises of
the day by Christian conversation with those around me. Before
breakfast this morning-, a Chinaman came to my door with a
couple of letters, sent to me from Hong- Kong. They were from
father, dated Aug. 3Uth and December 13th, 1842, both overland,
but delayed a good deal in arriving. After breakfast, I spent some
time in preparing for preaching. I preach now every Sabbath in
the chapel here, being the only clergyman in Macao except, Mr.
McBryde, who is not able to preach. Just as I was about to go to
the chapel, a bundle of letters and papers from the " Paul Jones,"
came in. I had a week ago received half a dozen letters, and
supposed there were no more ; these had gone to Canton by mis-
take, and now were returned. It was quite a temptation, but I
left them unopened till I returned from church, and then found
one from brother John, one from father, and one from yourself,
dated December 28th and 30th. Dear mother, I cannot express
my thanks to you sufficiently for that letter. You seemed to fear
that it would afford me little gratification, but it has been the most
interesting letter I have yet received from you. I like " news"
very well, but I like kind words and warm expressions of affection
a great deal better, when I krioiD that they come unstudied from
the heart. I cannot describe to you how much I value such a sen-
tence as "It is past nine o'clock and all are waiting for me for
prayers, where we always remember ' him in di foreign land.' " It
brought the warm tears to my eyes, (I can hardly see now,) pic-
tured before me — oh, how distinctly ! the scenes of other days,
■\jrhen I too knelt with you, and when my voice was heard among
you. I could see again the quiet room with its cheerful fire, and
the table with its well-remembered cover and lamp, and the family
Bible with its broken binding, and each familiar face, aye, and the
accustomed seat in which each one sat. I could hear the voice
that read ; 1 almost fancied I could join in the familiar tune that
was sung — and so I can, though separated from you by half the
circumference of the world. The praises we sing, though sung on
opposite sides of the globe, ascend to the same gracious God, and
the prayers we offer reach the same mercy-seat, and the same
grace that sustains you is sufficient, more than sufficient, for me.
Tell Mrs. C. if you see her, that it has greatly cheered me to hear
that her prayers have been offered for me, for I have learned to
place a high value on the prayers of others, however unknown
they may be to the world. How do we know but that in the
world to come, w^ shall find much of our usefulness attributable
to the prayers of those who remembered us, when we knew not
that they ever thought of us.
"Little Sam is gone, and you are gone, and soon it will be said,
they are all gone ;" and if soon, why regret that one has finished
his journey a few hours sooner than the rest, and another gone by
198 MEMOIR OP WALTER M. LOWRIE.
a different route ? Are we not strangers here, and do not stran-
gers sojourn but a short time in the land of their pilgrimag-e, and
are not pleasant companions often obliged in their voyages to pur-
sue different roads? When tlie journey is over, we will recount
our toils, and how we have been led by ways we knew not. Oh,
how true is that ! I have been led like a blind man, by a way 1
knew not, but already, if I am not mistaken, I see it was the best
way.
My journal has afforded you pleasure, more than I thought it
would ; but in heaven we shall need no journals, and shall then
rightly estimate the importance of every step we took. We shall
then see through what dangers we have passed, when we least
suspected they were so near ; we shall see how an angel was sent
in this place to sustain us, and in that an evil spirit driven away.
We shall see how influences that we did not dream of were direct-
ing our course, and as we contemplate the wonderful network of
our history, we shall more and more admire the wisdom and good-
ness of Him by whom our bodies were so " curiously wrought,"
and our actions so carefully ordered. We shall be at home then,
and shall "go no more out."
How pleasant is the Sabbath ! It comes to me in this heathen
land, to tell me that even here God is gracious ; but there where
one unending Sabbath prevails, there shall be no painful sights
of unhallowed desecration, no strivings with inbred sin, no weari-
ness ; we shall go no more out, nor wish to go, for there is fulness
of joy in the presence of God, and at his right hand are pleasures
for evermore, I sometimes feel as if I did not want to live any
longer; surely " I would not live always ;" but when I look round
and see these poor heathen, I think that perhaps I may do som^
thing. I am willing to stay, and when I think of Him who hath
done so much for me, I am dumb. Here am I, Lord ; do with me
as thou wilt.
But I must close for the present.
Affectionately yours,
W. M. LoWRIE.
Macao, May 17th, 1843.
Mr. John Lloyd —
My Dear John : — Your long, long expected letter reached me
eight or nine days ago. I was very glad indeed to hear from you,
for I had not expected to be sixteen months without a letter from
my old crony. But no matter, I'll pay you for it when you come
out here. I shall expect to see you in China before the end of
next year, without fail. The various items of your letter were
very satisfactory to me, as they recalled many old associations.
I proceed to answer some inquiries you have made. ... As to the
Chinese climate, I have not as yet svifiicient experience to speak
fully about it. I have been nearly a year here, and during that
LETTERS. 199
time have not had one day's sickness, and have taken only one
dose of medicine. I think it jirobable, however, that new comers
will be liable to fever and ague in most of the neAV ports, until
they become acclimated. The heat of summer is great ; the ther-
mometer now ranges above 80° ; but it is not as bad as that of
India, and we have cool and bracing winters. There is not com-
monly any frost or snow in this latitude, or at Amoy, but ice and
snow are both found at Chusan, Ningpo, and Shanghae, where I
think we shall have our principal stations.
As to the language, I suppose it pretty certain that the Chinese
is the hardest language in the world, except the Japanese ; which
is harder, because one must learn Chinese in order to learn Japan-
ese. But then a good many considerations remove the terror that
some of the Singapore missionaries were so anxious to excite on
this subject. 1. The language has been learned, and spoken
fluently and intelligibly, though not of course perfectly, by a num-
ber of persons within the last forty years ; and I have yet to learn
that any one of those persons possessed any remarkable talent for
learning languages. My impression is, that not one of them pos-
sessed such a talent to any great degree. 2. The facilities for
learning the language, in the way of elementary books and free
access to tlie people, are vastly better than they were twenty years
ago ; and every year they are getting better. 3. The dialects
spoken in the north, are said to be easier, decidedly, than those
spoken in Canton and Fokeen provinces ; and it has been with
the dialects of the two latter, that foreigners have been most con-
versant. Several of those who have learned Chinese, were over
thirty years of age before they connnenced it; two, I believe, were
over forty ; yet they are making progress. I have not made any
" considerable attainments" yet. Owing to my various wanderings,
of which you have heard somewhat, it was six months after I got
here, before I began to study regularly. I have now been study-
ing regularly for about six months. I can read easy sentences ;
can talk a very little with mj^ teacher ; and I look forward with
hope to the future. Yesterday I told my teacher that the Chinese
was a hard language to learn, and I leared it would take me four
or five years to talk it well. He said, no, it was not hard ; and
that in one year I should be able to converse satisfactorily. I told
him he was flattering me ; but he said, " No, I am a very old man,
why should I flatter youl" So I said no more. I only believe the
half of what he says ; but even that is better than I expected. At
first the study was prodigiously dry — worse than anytliing I ever
undertook ; but now I begin to feel a good deal of interest in it.
Come out and study with me, and I can give you a guod deal of
assistance. I am obliged to study with almost no assistance from
others, as the Pekin dialect, to which my attention is now directed,
is not attended to by any of the missionaries whom I have access
to. With your talents. I know you need not be afraid to com-
mence the language. Tell Hugh Brown I expect him to come
200 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
here also; and I wish you would turn the attention of Br. Cul-
bertson to this field. A person, however, who does not make
pretty reasonable progress in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, had bet-
ter not come to China for the present. The case may be different
a few years hence, when a greater variety of missionary labor can
be employed than is at present practicable.
I am serious when I say that I wish you and Brown and Cul-
bertson to regard this letter as a direct call to each of you to take
China into careful consideration before you conclude to go else-
where; and I trust you will be well satisfied that it is your duty
to do so, if you decline coming here. I would not speak so deci-
dedly if I did not think I had grounds for my opinion ; but know-
ing you three, and this field as well as I do, I think it has very
strong claims upon you.
I recommend you to learn the radicals immediately, so as to be
able to write the whole of them off, and give the name and mean-
ing of each, without once looking on the book. You will find it
of incalculable advantage. I speak from experience. I also ad-
vise that by all means you learn to speak in the way that •
recommends, i. e., by using the abdoannal and intercostal muscles.
I am convinced that if you do so, it will facilitate your progress in
the most difficult part of the spoken language, the tones. The
reason why we find it so hard to use the Chinese tones easily, is
because of our habit of using the lungs instead of the abdominal
and intercostal muscles. I wish I had known this in America.
The time you spend in learning this will be by no means lost,
while, if you neglect it, I fear you will always regret it.
But it is past ten o'clock, and I must close for the night. Would
that I could see you. Pray for me ; but I know you do so, and I
thank you for it. It does not surprise me to hear that I have
fallen into the general mass, and only come in under the general
prayer of " Lord bless the missionary." It was to be expected.
But there are a few who, I trust, will not so soon forget me. The
Lord ever be with you, and keep you, is the prayer of your
friend and brother in Christ,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Macao, May 27th, 1843.
My Dear Mother —
One year ago to-day I landed in Macao. How it has flown
away ! It seems but as yesterday when I left the ship, feeling
that I was a stranger going into a strange place, and my heart
almost sunk within me at the prospect before me. It seems but
as yesterday when I found myself suddenly among friends who
had been anxiously expecting me. The long and tedious voyage
in the Sea Q,ueen is like a dream of the night that quickly passed
away ; the sojourn in Manila like a tale that is told ; the re-
membrance of the shipwreck in the Harmony, and the storm in
LETTERS. 201
the long-boat, returns only to call forth feeling-s of gratitude. I
thought after that, that my mountain would stand strong; but it
was not so. I thought I might hope for many years of pleasant
intercourse with a colleague in the mission, but in a few days he
will have left the country. How rapidly jjave the last five months
passed away ! If the time to come flies as rapidly, I shall not
soon think myself an exile. But I do not feel hke one, for things
around begin to wear a familiar face, and though they may never
excite all the emotions that some remembered scenes do, yet here
would I live.
I have felt a great deal more of satisfaction since receiving an-
swers to my letters from China. It seems now as if a real corres-
pondence had commenced, and helps me to judge better how the
time passes. It gave me quite a new idea to think that I had re-
ceived letters dated three months after my shipwreck.
Ever truly yours, W. M. Lowrie.
Macao, June 30th, 1843.
My Dear Father —
The treaty between England and China was formally ratified
on Monday of this week (23d) at Hong Kong. A great deal of
hilarity and good feeling was said to prevail ; and the English
officers predict, with the utmost confidence, the permanence of the.
friendship thus commenced. It is our prayer that it may be so ;
but I have judged incorrectly of the Chinese character if they do
not now feel very sore on the subject. You will, of course, hear
the most contradictory reports on this subject. It is one on which
even here it is almost impossible to form a correct judgment. It
is sometimes amusing to hear with what perfect scorn the English
scout at the idea of the Chinese ever taking arms against them
hereafter; while, on the other hand, some of our American resi-
dents, and some of the best informed among them, predict with
almost equal certainty the speedy rupture of the present treaty.
I am inclined to think the truth lies between the two. As long
as the opium-smuggling continues — which, I suppose, will be as
long as men love money more than they fear God, — there will be
occasions of difficulty. How these diflficulties are to be settled, will
depend very much on the officers whom the British Government
and other foreign nations may send out ; but it is too much to
hope that they will always be settled peaceably. It is a great
comfort to be persuaded that the Lord reigneth, and that he holds
the hearts of the kings in his hands. If I may conjecture as to
the future, it is that there will be great changes in China ere long.
I do not see how it can be otherwise. The new influences that
must now be brought to bear upon them ; the new and strange
'sentiments that luust now disturb the long-settled train of their
thoughts ; the various impressions of foreign men and foreign
things, that must now circulate through the land, slowly, perhaps,
202 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
but certainly, canaot but excite thought ; and God only knows
where it will end. " I will overturn, overturn, overturn ; and it
shall be no more : until he come whose right it is, and I will give
it him." In the mean time, while the field is open, let us enter in ;
while the ground is ploughed up, let us cast our seed with a lib-
eral hand. We may not see its growth, but the word of the Lord
shall not return unto him void. There can be no fears as to the
final result, though we can know but little of the intermediate-^
steps
Your affectionate son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Macao, July 20th, 1843.
My Dear Father —
.... I find myself obliged to confess that the warm weather
has its effects upon me. For a month after it commenced I felt as
strong and as much disposed to study as ever ; but, for the last
two weeks, I do not feel able to sit at my books nearly so con-
stantly as before, nor to take such long walks as usual. I have
lost a good deal of my appetite, and they all tell me I look pale,
and thinner than usual. Such is the worst side of the picture ; on
the other hand, I am not sick, not low spirited, suffer no manner
of pain, can read and write, and laugh and talk as usual, and do
anything that does not require long and close mental effort. 1 sleep
soundly, and the time passes away rapidly. I don't expect to do
much studying for a couple of months to come. I had hoped to
be on my way to visit Amoy and Chusan ere this, but have not
yet found a suitable vessel, nor do I know of any. If one does
not offer soon, I shall be obliged to postpone it till some time in
September or October. . . .
Your journal of a day interested me very much. I would give
you something of the kind in retiun, but am really so ashamed of
each day's work for the present week, that I would rather not. I
managed to keep up what httle I know of Chinese, and to add a
little to my stock ; to read some ; and write some ; to take a walk
every day ; and to preach once a week to the English and Ameri-
can residents. As I have not yet brought myself to read other
men's sermons, I have commonly to prepare one every week. This
takes a good deal of time and thought, and I sometimes feel as if
I ought not to do it, as the strength thus employed could be used
in fitting myself for my missionary life. Yet as there are some
who seein to feel an interest in attending, and as I am the only
minister here, it does not seem right to neglect them altogether. I
should like to be among the Chinese.
Your suggestions about a Chinese dictionary are important, but
I hardly know what to say in regard to them ; it will be time
enough for me to think of such a thing, when I can call myself a
Chinese scholar. I make no pretensions to that name now, uor
JOURNAL TO AMOY AND CHUSAN. 203
can I even guess when I shall deserve it ; and if I ever do deserve
it, I may prefer some other kind of labor, besides dry dictionary
making. Still, I consider it a duty to keep something of the kind
in view. You of course will not mention that I do so, as I do not
wish it to be known. The thought that I may perhaps be of some
assistance in that way, is one thing which, with others, induces
me to study the Mandarin, and to prefer one of the northern ports.
I cannot tell you, my dear father, how much I value your let-
ters. The spirit of kindness and affection they breathe, is to me
most truly refreshing and delightful, and I sometimes almost feel
as if it was worth while to be separated from you in order to enjoy
them. But I do not altogether give up the hope of seeing you again,
though I have little expectation of seeing you in the United States.
When I get into my own house at Ningpo, or some other regular
Chinese place, I mean to send you and mother a special invitation
to come and see me. I rather think, too, that you will find it hard
to refuse my invitation. With many affectionate thoughts of you,
and of all the members of our beloved family, I remain as ever,
Your affectionate son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
JOURNAL TO AMOY AND CHUSAN.
It appeared very desirable, that some member of our mission
should visit the ports of China, recently opened for foreign com-
merce, and make inquiries as to their suitableness for missionary
operations. Accordingly, I made such arrangements as would
allow me to be absent from Macao, for about two months ; and
having engaged a passage in an English vessel going up the coast,
I left Macao in the latter end of August, expecting, as the wind
was then favorable, to reach Chusan in ten days. We were, how-
ever, very unnecessarily delayed several days in Hong Kong ; and
after getting out to sea, found, to our surprise, that the vessel was
very badly provided for a sea voyage, having no chronometer on
board, and a very insufficient supply of water and provisions. We
succeeded in reaching Amoy, and went some distance beyond it ;
but having been detained too long in Hong Kong, the monsoon
changed before we could reach Chusan, and our ill-provided vessel
was unable to make headway agamst it. After beating for several
days and making no progress, we found our provisions were run-
ning short, and seeing no prospect of soon accomplishing our
voyage, the passengers requested the captain to return to Amoy.
This was done, and the time for which I had made arrangements
to be absent, being now more than half elapsed, I thought it better
to spend a few days in Amoy, and ti^en to return to Macao, rather
than to attempt to proceed against the monsoon to Chusan, which
would have been not only tedious, but very uncomfortable. In
consequence of this disappointment, it was not possible to gain all
204 MEMOIR OF "WALTER M. LOWRIE.
the information that was desired — still, however, many things of
an interesting nature came under my observation, and perhaps
the best way of presenting them, will be to give them as they
stand in a journal kept at the time.
August 25th. Left Macao in the morning, in the schooner
Thomas Crisp. She is to call at Hong Kong, stop a day at Amoy,
and then proceed to Chusan. The price of passage for the whole
voyage is one hundred dollars. There was quite a strong wind
shortly after we left Macao, and the weather becoming very misty,
we could not see our course among the islands, and were obliged
to anchor at the western end of Lantas, about twenty miles from
Macao. We remained at anchor nearly twenty-four hours.
August 27th. Sabbath — a beautiful day, and a favorable wind
— reached Hong Kong about three o'clock.
The vessel should have sailed on Monday, but was very unne-
cessarily delayed until Thursday morning. Having occasion to
go about from one part of Hong Kong to the other, and not wish-
ing to expose myself to the sun and rain, which at this season of
the year must be carefully avoided, I engaged a boat to be at my
complete control, (for a dollar a day.) The boat was long and
narrow, being perhaps fifteen feet in length and six in width in
its broadest part ; it had one mast with a mat sad, which could be
raised or lowered in a moment. It was owned by a man and his
wife, who made it their home, and gained their living by carrying
passengers and going of errands. They form part of the boat
population, which is so remarkable a feature in the aspect of this
part of China. At Macao, Hong Kong, and many other places in
the Canton province, and particularly at the city of Canton itself,
there are immense numbers of people who spend their whole hves
on the water. They are considered by those who live on shore as an
inferior race, and are scarcely allowed to form connections by mar-
riage, except among themselves. The size of their boats varies
very much, though the greater part of them are much smaller
than the one I had now engaged. At Whampoa 1 have seen hun-
dreds of their boats, each the habitation of a family, that were
not more than ten feet in length and five in breadth. In these
they are born — here they live — they marry and are given in mar-
riage, and here they die. The number of people dwelling in boats
in the river near Canton, is estimated at near one hundred thou-
sand. Their boats are called Tan-kea boats, or egg- house boats,
because when covered, as they usually are, with a mat roof, they
bear a great resemblance in shape to an egg. As may be sup-
posed, they are generally a very degraded and ignorant race, and
their ideas on religious subjects of the very lowest order. Yet,
there is not one of these boats, however poor in other respects, that
has not its little shelf or little apartment with an idol, and a cen-
ser— or if too poor for that, at least a bit of red paper with mys-
tical characters inscribed, and a few glittering ornaments, before
which incense sticks are daily burned.
JOURNAL TO AMOY AND CHUSAN. 205
The boat I had engaged had a covering over the central part,
beneath which the family slept. In front, the man stood to row,
and behind there was space for four or five persons to seat them-
selves comfortably, besides allowing the woman room to scull the
boat. Underneath this part were the cooking utensils, fire-place,
and provisions; in the house was a little cupboard, perhaps two
feet square, and a roll of mats for a bed, and beneath the front
part, where the man stood, was a place to hold Avood and water.
The back part where the passengers sit is covered with a mat
awning, forming an excellent shelter from sun and rain, and allow-
ing a free circulation of air. When the wind was favorable, they
hoisted the sail and the woman steered. When there was no
wind, the man rowed and the woman sculled.
They had two children, one a boy about three years old, and
the other a girl of seven nidntlis. The boy had no playmates,
few playthings, and but little playground, yet he seemed quite
happy and contented. Sometimes he sat by his mother and gazed
at the passenger ; sometimes he took the little hatchet and chop-
ped wood or hammered a stone ; and sometmies he lay down in
the little house and slept. But his chief amusement was to stand
by his father when rowing, and lean upon the oar. He thus ac-
quired without effort all the motions necessary in rowing. He
was especially delighted to stand on a little footstool and have it
turn over and throw him down, and when he succeeded in falling
he laughed most joyously. By way of precaution, a piece of light
wood was attached to his back, to keep him afloat if he should
chance to fall overboard. As for the little girl, her mother strap-
ped her on her back, and there she hung, her bare legs dangling
out, and her head swinging to and fro with the motion of her
mother's body as she sculled the boat. The couple seemed quite
happy, and were very civil and obliging. I frequently left articles
worth many times more than all the compensation they expected
from me, for hours together in their boat, and never lost anything.
August 31st. Got under way from Hong Kong about nine
o'clock, A. M., but having light and unfavorable winds, made very
slow progress. Obliged to come to anchor at night opposite Chek
Chu, on the southern side of the island.
Hong Kong is a small, irregularly-shaped island. Its entire
circumference is about twenty-seven miles, and a more hilly, rocky
place, can hardly be imagined. It seems on first sight almost im-
possible to discover a place suitable for a residence, and it is only
4)y cutting down the hills and levelling the ground, that suitable
building sites can be obtained. This levelling of the ground is
one of the causes of the great expensiveness of building in Hong
Kong; for it frequently costs from three hundred to a thousand
dollars merely to remove the stones and prepare the ground for
building. The great reason why this island was selected by the
English, is found in the harbor, vvliich is one of the finest in the
world. It was first taken possession of in January, 1841 — and
206 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
was officially acknowledged by the Chinese, and received by the
English, as a dependency on the British crown, in June, 1843. Its
population when taken possession of at first was about four thou-
sand ; but it very soon increased wonderfully, on account of the
demand for laborers on the roads and houses, and the shops that
were established. Its present population must be near twenty
thousand, who are principally of the lower orders, though there
are some of the more respectable classes, and their numbers are
said to be increasing. It is to be feared that the island of Hong
Kong itself will never be a very good place for direct missionary
labors ; but its commercial importance, and the large number of
natives residing in the neighboring islands, and on the shores of
the main land adjoining it, will always make it an object of im-
portance to have at least one station there. Nor should it be for-
gotten, that Hong Kong is in a manner the key of Canton prov-
ince, which contains a population of nineteen millions of inhabi-
tants,— being more than the whole population of the United States.
Should China be thrown more widely open than it now is, (and he
who has opened it so wide already can as easily open it wider,) all
this vast number of people will be accessible to the missionary,
and it is chiefly from the stations at Hong Kong, that they must
be supplied.
During the voyage from Hong Kong to Amoy we passed in
sight of three of the great opium depots along the coast. These
three were Tong-san, How-tow-san, and Namoa. At these three
places, the opium dealers in Canton and Macao, have ships con-
stantly stationed to keep supplies of opium, and to them the
smaller vessels, or "opiiun clippers," as they are called, resort for
cargoes, which they carry to different parts of the coast and dispose
of always for silver. The number of vessels employed in this
traffic is very great. A single mercantile house in Canton and
Macao, employs about fifty vessels, ships, barks, brigs and schoon-
ers, while another house has thirty or more.* These vessels carry
almost nothing but opium, and receive almost nothing in return
but silver. The laws of the Chinese against the introduction of
opium are very severe, but at present they are a mere dead letter ;
the opium smugglers laugh at them, and carry their vile drug reck-
lessly to all parts of the coast, where it is purchased by the
Ciiinese, and carried into different parts of the country. The
Chinese officers themselves, instead of striving to prevent its intro-
duction, connive at it. being frequently bribed for that purpose by
* The amount of capital embarked in the opium trade is enormous, as may be judged
of from the number of vessels employed. The smallest of these vessels probably costs
the owners upwards of S5,000 annually. A schooner like the or costs
from HOO to 1"200 dollars a month merely for her sailing, i. e. wages, wear and tear ;
so that the annual expense of one of the least of these messengers of evil, is greater
than the whole expenses of our mission in any year since its commencement ; while
the brigs, barks. an<l ships cost still more. This is merely for wages of the men and
officers, and tlie wear and tear of the vessel, and is exclusive of all the money ex-
pended in purchasing the opium, storing it, and packing and repacking.
JOURNAL TO AMOY AND CHUSAN. 207
the smugglers. One of the very greatest difficulties in the way of
Christian missions in China, arises from the prevalence of the use
of opium ; and it is to be feared that it will long continue in the
way. When a man acquires a taste for opium, there is nothing he
will not do to gratify it ; and its use is most deleterious. It injures
his bodily health, it stupefies his mental powers, and it deadens liis
moral feelings, and when the habit of using it is once confirmed,
it is almost impossible to abandon it. The fondness for opium is
one of the strong chains in which Satan has bound this great
people, and it is a heart-sickening reflection, that this evil luxury
is supplied to them by the merchants of tlie two nations which
profess to be actuated by 'the purest Christianity. It is almost im-
possible to find a vessel going up the coast, which does not carry it.
September 5th. Reached Amoy, and was received with a hearty
welcome by the Rev. Mr. Abeel and Ur. Cumming. They were
the only missionaries then residing at Amoy. or rather at Ku-
langsu, which is a beautiful little island not more than one-fourth
of a mile from Amoy. The Rev. Mr. Boone of the American
Episcopal Board, and Rev. Mr. McBryde of our Board, were both
at this station for some time, but have been obliged to return to
the United States on account of ill health. It is the expectation
of each of them to return again, if health be restored.
In the evening after reaching Kulangsu, Dr. Cumming and
myself went over to Amoy to see the place. We crossed from
Kulangsu to Amoy for ten cash a-piece, (it takes eleven or twelve
cash to make a cent.) The boats in the Fuhkeen province are
few compared with those in the Canton province, and are not at
all to be compared with the latter, either for beauty, neatness or
comfort. The men in the small row-boats here reverse the usual
order of proceedings, for they stand up in the stern of the boats
to row, and place the passengers in the middle and bow of the
boat. The floating population in this province is small, and the
boats are seldom rowed by women. The people in general
seemed to have more prominent cheek-bones and flatter noses
than those I had seen in other parts of China ; perhaps their flat
noses give them some advantage in uttering the abundant nasal
sounds of the Fuhkeen dialect.
We went first through several streets in the suburbs of the city,
then into the city itself, and walked half round it on the city v.'all,
which is wide enough for three or four persons to walk abreast,
and returned to Kulangsu a little after dark. '"Multitudes, multi-
tudes," was the impression that forced itself upon me in walking
through the crowded streets, and looking out over the close-built
environs of this great city. The suburbs are much larger than
the city itself, and most of the merchants' shops are there. Each
street, both within the city and in the suburbs, is closed at each
end by gates every night ; all are narrow, and all are dirty. It
is hardly possible for foreigners to live in the close filthy quarters
generally occupied by the Chinese. We can live in houses like
208 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
theirs with but little difficulty, but their positioa is generally low
and damp, and their being so dirty and so closely crowded to-
gether, combine to render them unhealthy.
There is but Uttle luxury observable in Amoy, or splendor in
their shops, like that seen in Canton, where the foreigners have
so long resorted. Almost all that was exposed for sale consisted
of the necessaries of life, articles to eat and drink and wear.
There were but few women in the streets, but many of them
gazed at us from the back doors of tlie houses as we passed. It
seems to be an almost universal custom in this province for the
females to wear flowers in their hair ; the custom is not so preva-
lent in Canton province. If we stopped a moment in the streets,
crowds gathered around us. The children clapped their hands,
and the men gathered around us to examine our dress, and
seemed especially to admire my stature, but all were perfectly
civil. We stopped to ask the price of a picture. " A dollar and
a half," w^as the ready answer. " Oh, no !" said another, " don't
you see they are teachers." " Well you may have it for one
hundred and fifty cash," equal to twelve-atid-a-haif cents !
The country back of Amoy consists ahnost entirely of hills, the
bleakest and stoniest I ever saw. Except in the little secluded
valleys, not a tree nor a blade of grass was to be seen ; but in
every little valley where there was fresh water and a few trees,
there were sure to be villages, and in proportion to the size of the
valleys did the villages increase in size. The green rice fields at
the foot of the bare and barren hills contrasted beautifully with
the rocks around them. The population of Amoy is variously
estimated, but two hundred thousand for the city and the suburbs
in its immediate vicinity, is tlie most common, and probably the
most correct estimate. The number of villages in sight from
Kulangsu is wonderful. Whence does all this vast population
draw its subsistence, for the country around does not appear capa-
ble of sustaining the tenth part of those who live here? Partly
from the sea, partly from connnerce, and partly from the interior
of t!ie country which receives many foreign commodities from
Amoy. The Fuhkeen men are the New Englanders of China,
and their vessels make long voyages, going to all parts of the
Chinese coast, to Manila, to Borneo, to Singapore and to Java,
but not often venturing as far as India. A great part of the rice
used in other provinces is imported from the island of Formosa,
which lies about seventy miles to the eastward.
Nine opium ships were anchored close alongside of Amoy,
and also tivo vessels that had no opium on board. I was told,
on good authority, that every man in Amoy who could aHTord to
buy opium was in the habit of smoking it. The Chinese officers
make no effort whatever to prevent its introduction, and I saw
opium pipes openly exposed for sale in the streets. A few years
ago it would have been almost as much as a Chinaman's life was
AMOV. 209
worth, to have been detected in the sale of anything used in con-
suming' tlie prohibited article.
The next morning (Sept. 7) Mr. Abeel and myself rose early
for a walk round the island of Kulangsu. It is about three miles
long, not quite a mile broad, and is wonderfully diversified with
hill and dale. Small as it is, I have never seen so many beauti-
ful prospects in the same space. Every hill-top is crowned with
black and naked rocks, wbile every spot of ground that can be cul-
tivated is used (or rather ivas used, for the Chinese are not now
allowed to reside on the island, wbile it is occupied by the Eng-
lish troops,) either for houses, or rice grounds, or tombs. The pop-
ulation, previously to its being occupied by the British, has been
commonly estimated at five thousand, but judging from the houses
still standing, and the ruins of those torn down, I should say, this
was a very moderate estimate. There may have been eight or
ten thousand persons, and from the style of the houses, it may be
inferred that many of the wealthier inhabitants of Amoy had
their common residences on this island. There -are a number of
noble banyan trees, and my impressions of the island were very
favorable.
It was beautiful exceedingly. Perhaps it appeared more beau-
tiful from its dissimilarity to the bare and rugged hills of Hong
Kong and Macao, but it reminded me strongly of many scenes
long since, perhaps forever, passed. It was melancholy to see
the ruined houses, and to meet the English soldiers at every
step, for they told of violence and war. It was sad to look upon
these multitudes, all accessible, full three hundred thousand
souls, who might be visited by the missionary between sunrise
and nightfall, without his ever spending a night from home, and
instructed about the way of life ; but who is there to break to
them the bread of life ? One poor almost broken-down minister,
and one physician, who with stammering lips set before them the
way of truth. Dr. Cumming's time is fully taken up in attend-
ing to the cases of disease that are brought to iiis house, and Mr.
Abeel daily converses with them, and distributes religious tracts,
besides having a service on the Sabbath for all who choose to
come. The attendance on Sabbath varies from thirty to eighty,
and the names and objects of the missionaries are now well known,
and they are treated with much favor both by the rulers and the
common people.
Infanticide is very common in this province ; very many in-
quiries have been made by the missionaries, and all the testimony
goes to prove that it prevails to a fearful extent. It is not saying
too much to aflfirm, that in the districts around Amoy, one-fifth,
or one-sixth of the children perish by the hands, or with the con-
sent of their parents. One poor man said to Mr. Abeel with an
air of the greatest simplicity and sincerity, " Teacher, before you
came, I killed five of my children ; I would not do it now, for you
have showed me that it is wrong, but before you came 1 did not
14
210 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
know that— who was thereto tell me?" Alas! who was there
to tell him ? The opium smugglers are dealing their poison all
around, but very rarely does a missionary appear amongst them,
and those who do come, have difficulties to contend with as they
sit upon the damp tiled floors of the native houses, and breathe
the unwholesome air of the swampy fields, such as rarely enter
into the minds of those who dwell in their ceiled houses, and talk
in their own native language.
1 visited the grave of Mrs. Boone. It is in a beautiful quiet
garden, a little tree stands at the foot, and an immense banian
spreads its shade over the whole. She died August 30, 1842. It
was a time of sadness and sorrow when that first member of the
missionary band here fell ; but I could not regard her lonely grave
in any other light than as a pledge that the kingdom shall yet be
the Lord's. For not alone shall that Christian wife and mother
sleep here ; others of the missionary circle shall also toil, and lie
down here, and around them shall sleep those saved by their
means, and sooner or later we shall look upon graves, even in
this heathen land, with the same feelings of calm and Joyful hope
with which we behold them in Christian lands. May the Lord
hasten that time ! for it is a sorrowful thought as we look upon
the countless graves that throng every hill-side around us, " Not
one of all these myriads ever heard the name of Christ — where
now are their souls ?" It was a pleasant thing in my native land
to go to the grave-yard on Saturday evenings, or the Sabbath
morning, and sit upon the tombs, and think of heaven ; but I
cannot do that in China.
We left Amoy on Thursday, September 7, about noon, and after
beating out some six or seven miles, had a "slashing breeze" in
our favor. Our course lay to the north-east, along the coast of
China, too far off to see minute objects, but near enough to dis-
tinguish its outline and general features. From Hong Kong to
Amoy, a distance of over three hundred miles, the coast is re-
markably rocky, bold, and mountainous, hardly a plain was to
be seen. But immediately after passing Amoy the appearance of
the coast changed. It became level with gentle elevations and
depressions, and this lasts for nearly two hundred miles, when it
resumes its rocky character. I could scarcely take my eyes away
from the first of the gently rising hills that was seen. It was so
different from all that I had witnessed for nearly twenty months,
and reminded me so strongly of objects seen in my own native
land, that it required but little stretch of fancy to cover the scene
with the peaceful homes, and smiling villages, and solemn churches
of America. But, alas, how different the reality ! Multitudes,
multitudes of immortal beings, but all ignorant of the truth ! An
opium clipper followed us out of Amoy, and being a faster sailer
than we, soon passed us on her way to Chinnnoo Bay, another
great opium depot. It reminded me sadly of the truth that the
men of this world are wiser in their generation than the children
JOURNAL FROM AMOY. 211
of light. But I found consolation where I had not looked for it.
We were sailing on the wide sea. The whole expanse of the
Pacific Ocean, with its unfathomed depths and uncounted waves,
was rolling on our right, and its waters washed the shores of the
most populous empire on the earth. Behold ! " The earth shall
be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters
cover the seas,^' Hab. iii. 14. What though men, for the sake of
gain, follow practices that injure their fellow-men, and impede the
progress of the Gospel, it shall not always be so ; for thus saith
the Lord, " They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy moun-
tain ; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, a-s
the waters cover the sea," Isaiah ix. 11. With such an assurance
from such a source, what more do we want to confirm our faith
and encourage our hope ?
Friday, September 15. When within one hundred and twenty
miles of Cliusan the monsoon changed, and after beating about for
several days, and making no progress, we anchored at the Island
of San-pan-shan, in order to replenish our water-casks, and wait,
if perhaps the weather might become more moderate. The island
of San-pan-shan is in north lat. 28 deg. 5 min., and east long. 122
deg.
The passengers went ashore to-day for a stroll over the island,
and at the beach where we landed, we found about a hundred men
collected. They spoke a dialect that none of us understood, and
our only intercourse with them was by signs, and the few Chinese
words we could pick up. There were twelve or thirteen small
Chinese vessels, junks as they are here called, in a httle cove on
the side of the island opposite where we had anchored, which had
probably gone there to escape the bad weather. We saw about
two hundred persons in all, a part of whom doubtless belonged to
the junks in the little bay. I doubt whether the whole population
of the island amounts to one hundred persons ; there were very
few women, and very few children. The people seemed to be very
poor ; dwelt in miserable huts, and raised a very few vegetables ;
there were no rice-fields, but there were plenty of sweet potatoes,
which seemed, indeed, to be almost the only vegetable cultivated.
I suppose the people were principally fishermen ; they were of
small stature, and very dark complexion, and spoke a dialect much
resembling the Fuhkeen.
The island is small, and of a crescent shape : it is, perhaps, two
miles in length, and three-fourths of a mile in breadth, with two
or three smaller islands near it. Its foundation is the solid granite
rock, which is quite bare for many feet above low water mark.
Like all Chinese islands that I have yet seen, it is hilly ; but the
hills, though high, are not quite so abrupt as those on the islands
farther south. On the top of the very highest hill was a heap of
stones piled up and about four feet high. When or why built I
had no means of ascertaining.
Just above our landing-place, and near the principal collection
212 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
of huts, was an idol temple, dedicated to Ma-tsoo-po, a favorite
Chinese goddess. There was nothing remarkable about it, except
its filthiness, and two figures about two-thirds the size of men,
standing on a block of wood near the door. They were painted
black, with red and glaring eyes, and horribly-distorted mouths,
all begrimed with smoke of incense-sticks, and dirt ; they were fit
representations of the horrid character of him whom this deluded
people worship. There were several brazen incense-stands on
the altar, one of which 1 wished to take away, but the people
would not allow of it. " No, it was Ma-tsoo-po's." I would give
a good deal to be able to transport the two black images as they
are, to tlie Mission House in New York.
In one of the huts a dozen men were busy gambling : so intent
were they on their game, that they scarcely looked at us as we
passed, though they had probably never seen a foreigner in their
lives before. Here, as everywhere else, the people knew the for-
eigners only by what is evil. One of the men, who seemed a little
more respectable than the rest, and to whom, after making sure
that he could read it, 1 gave a Chinese tract, finding I knew a little
Chinese, asked me something 1 did not understand. He then in-
vited me into his hut, begged me to be seated, and wrote down in
Chinese the question. " How do you sell your opium ?" Two or
three men were smoking opium at the time. As well as I could,
I expressed my dislike and abhorrence of the practice, and went
out, greatly to his surprise. Going past the temple, as we w^ent
back to our boat, I looked in again, and there were six or eight
people stretched on the floor, and drawing away at their opium
pipes ; some of them were already half stupefied by it, and the
place was filled by the fumes of the sickening drug. Popery and
opium will be the great opponents of the missionaries in China.
There is not a place to which we can go, where the opium-dealer
has not already gone, and there is no moral sentiment in China to
second the efforts of her rulers to banish the baneful luxury from
her borders. I could almost fancy that the horrible images in the
idol temple looked with complacency on the prostrate forms of the
smokers at their feet ; and sure I am that the ruler of the spirits
of darkness and evil rejoices in the diffusion of opium in China.
Wednesday, September 27th. Finding that our vessel was in no
condition to beat against the monsoon, and that our prospect of
reaching Chusan in her was very poor, we reluctantly turned
about, and arrived at Amoy yesterday. It is a mysterious dispen-
sation of providence, but doubtless He who holds the winds in his
fist has wise ends in view, in disappointing my hopes : "What I
do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter."
Sitting in Mr. Abeel's house this morning, about a dozen very
respectably-dressed Chmese from Tung-an, tlie capital of this dis-
trict, came in. After making some remarks to them on the nature
of the Christian religion, and of the plan of salvation, to which
they listened with interest, interspersing remarks of their own by
JOURNAL AT AMOY. 213
the way, he asked them of their customs, particularly in regard to
infanticide. One man said they " destroyed more tlian half the
female children," (the boys they never kill.) The rest of the com-
pany corrected this, saying-, "No, formerly we did, but now we
destroy about one out of three." This is the common answer
given by hundreds of persons. As soon as a girl is born, if tliey
do not wish her to live, she is suffocated. Want of natural affec-
tion, and an unwillingness to encounter the expense of supporting
the children, are the reasons for this cruel procedure. Tiiey ac-
knowledge it to be cruel, but seldom seem to think it is wrong.*
September 28. Walked out before sunrise to the top of the liigh-
est hill in Ku-lang-su. It is crowned by several rocks, two of
which are of great size; one of them is more than one hun<]red
feet long, at least eighty feet broad, and eighty feet high, all above
ground. The view from the top would have embraced the whole
circumference of the horizon : but not being able to reach it, I was
obliged to content myself at its base ; still, by changing my posi-
tion, I could see on all sides. The hills of the main land, and of
the islands in sight, rose, as they always do in this part of China,
steep, bare, and barren ; and the spots of fertile ground were few
and comparatively small. But wherever a clump of trees grew, a
village was sure to be seen. I counted more than twenty villages,
all in full view, and none more than ten or twelve miles distant:
besides the city of Amoy itself, ail of these are perfectly accessible
to the missionary ; he may go to any of them without let or hin-
derance, and preach or distribute books, and for the present at
least, he wnll be sure of crowds of attentive hearers. There is
very little that is inviting in the appearance of Chinese towns.
The houses are all low, and few or none are distinguished by any
architectural beauty. They are built without taste, and it is sel-
dom that any tiowers are cultivated by the sides of the poorer peo-
ple's houses ; they are commonly built so close together, that at a
short distance you see nothing but the weather-worn roofs, but
occasionally some beautiful scenes meet the eye. I scarcely know
a more romantic spot than the Western village, on the island of
Ku-lang-su. Just fancy a little valley containing several acres
of ground, rather long, and opening out like a fan, hemmed in on
all sides but one by steep and rocky hills, and facing a sheet of
water studded with islands. It has several noble banian trees,
and fifty or sixty Chinese houses very neatly built, and dispersed
at the foot of the hills, between the trees. The houses, however,
are now uninhabited, and most of them are in a sad state for want
of attention.
The Chinese do not use gunpowder in blasting rocks, but split
the largest of them simply by the use of wedges. I saw a rock
that had been split in two, and the part that remained was fifty
feet long and thirty feet high.
* See the Chinese Repository for Oct. 1843.
214 MEMOIR OP WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Took a boat and went to see a Budhist temple some two or three
miles south-east of Amoy. It stands at the foot of the high ridge
of hills running from the city of Amoy into the interior of Amoy
island, and is about half a mile from the shores of the bay. In
front of the temple is an inclosure containing four open buildings,
in each of which are two gigantic stone tortoises six feet long and
four feet broad. Each tortoise supports a white stone tablet, ten
feet high and four feet broad, and covered one with Chinese and
the other with Tartar inscriptions ; the Chinese characters are
certainly very well adapted for inscriptions, and I have rarely seen
any specimens of cutting in stone so beautifully executed as these
are. The purport of the inscriptions seemed to be maxims and
moral sentences ; but as to their particular meaning, I forbear to
interpret it. Directly behind these tablets was the entrance of
the temple, with all its array of dingy paintings, grotesque carving
and queer dragons above the door. On entering, the first object
seen was a gilt statue of Budh, of gigantic size, with a green veil
over the window of the inclosure where he was seated. Behind
him was another gigantic image, and on either side were two
other giants ; on one side a male and a female with a guitar in
her hand, and on the other side a female, and a black and horrid-
looking male attendant. Each statue is said to be eighteen feet
high, and of one solid stone. I did not think them so high, and
thought they were made of clay ; but a railing in front prevented
a close examination. Passing beyond the gilt image, there was
an open court with four trees ; on each side of the court was a
square tower, the second story of one of which contained a drum,
and of the other a bell. Beyond these, and in a line with them,
were two long galleries, each containing nine gilt images of Chi-
nese sages, some of which were decorated with blue beards. Be-
tween the two galleries was an octagonal tower, the upper part
of which was composed of a large number of pieces of wood carved
of various shapes, with painting and gilding, and dragons and
images scattered about. The roof was supported by eight stone
pillars, round each of which twined an immense dragon. The in-
terior of the temple contained a number of images, the principal
of which was Kwante, seated on the lower half of an immense
pine-apple, with a gilded frame behind her resembling the rays
behind the Speaker's chair in the capitol at Washington. She
was surrounded by half a dozen other images, large and small ;
incense was constantly burning before her, and on a frame nu-
merous printed prayers were suspended. Behind this tower were
three apartments, stretchmg across the whole breadth of the tem-
ple, and in each of them were three images, one principal and two
subordinates. One of the principal images was Kwante, another
was Ma-tsoo-po ; the name of the third I did not learn. Here we
were met by two of the priests, pale in countenance, dressed in
white, and of rather pleasing manners. Only one of them said
anything, but he was quite talkative. They gave us tea without
JOURNAL AT AMOY. 215
sugar or milk, and promised to call at the mission house in Amoy,
after which we left them.
Near this temple, I saw what is rather uncommon in China,
regularly-inclosed graveyards. There were a great many unin-
closed tombs all around, but here were three graveyards ; each of
them had a large tomb in the centre, and a great many of com-
mon appearance regularly arranged around, completely lilling up
the inclosed spaces. The burying-grounds were all small, but
extremely full. The largest was only one hundred feet square,
and yet it had three hundred and fifty graves in it, all of which
seemed to be of about the same age. It is not known to foreign-
ers, and not to any Chinese of whom we made inquiries, who are
buried there. The inscriptions at the entrance of each would per-
haps tell, but it requires time and patience to copy and translate
them. Just within the entrance of each was a stone with the in-
scription////i s/n^i, happy spirits ! Alas! are they happy ? None
were children's graves.
October 1, Sabbath. In the morning attended Mr, Abeel's Chi-
nese service ; about twenty were present, which is a smaller num-
ber than usual. Among them was a Budhist priest, and several
very respectably-dressed gentlemen. Most of them attended well.
In the evening preached to the soldiers ; owing to the sickness
prevailing at present, the congregation was small ; only about
seventy were present, yet it was the largest number I have
preached to at one time since leaving New York.
October 2, Monday. Monthly Concert to-night. I conducted the
services and made the first prayer, then read Psalm Ixviii., and
made some remarks on the frequency with which the promises of
the conversion of the world are followed by glorious ascriptions of
praise to God, as shown : — Ps. Ixviii. 31, 32, Is. xliv. 23, and xlix.
12, 13. Mr. Roberts then prayed, and made some remarks on the
necessity of faith in Christ, and of entire dependence on his grace,
rather than trusting in feelings and frames of mind. We sang a
hymn, and Mr. Abeel prayed. It was a pleasant time.
JOURNAL TO CHANG-CHOW.
October 3. Mr. Abeel and I have been talking for some days of
making an excursion into the interior, some thirty or forty miles,
and to-day we went off to engage a boat. There are so many
rivers and streams along the coast of China, and the Chinese so
commonl)'^ live near the w^ater, that almost all travelling is in
boats. Hence the expression, Haou fung shwuy, literally mean-
ing a fair wind and tide, is equivalent to saying, " Good luck go
with you," or " May you have a prosperous time." After a deal
of chaffering and bargaining, and being almost deafened by the
noisy Chinese we had to talk with, (when talking earnestly, the
common people actually shout their words,) we arranged with an
old man to be taken Lo Chang-Chow, a city of the second order,
216 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
and said to be twice as large as Amoy, for three dollars and a
half. One of our Chinese friends promises to accompany us.
As we came back from the boat, we met a whole fleet of fisher-
men coming in from the sea, though it was but three o'clock, p. m.,
and the day was fine. It seems, however, they anticipated bad
weather, and came into the harbor for shelter. The knowledge
of the weather possessed by Chinese boatmen is reall}^ wonderful,
— one of them is almost as good as a barometer. Their boats had
hardly reached Amoy, before it began to blow quite fresh ; and,
doubtless, out at sea there was a heavy wind.
Wednesday, Oct. 4. After a hasty breakfast, started, and our
boat, which was of about twenty tons burden, got under weigh at
seven o'clock. The tide was against us, but the wind was favor-
able, and we speedily reached and passed Pagoda Island, which
is about two miles west of Kulangsu. Passing the island on the
north, we entered a noble bay, some ten or twelve miles long from
east to west, and four or five in breadth. It was surrounded on
all sides by the high, steep, barren hills, so common in Chinese
scenery ; with plains of greater or less extent at their bases.
From the deck of our small boat, it was difficult to judge correctly
of the size of the plains, though some of them must have been
large. The shores of the bay all around were lined with villages,
few of which were three miles apart ; I counted more than
twenty, and our boatmen said that the whole number was above
thirty. Allowing a thousand souls to each village, a very moder-
ate allowance, here are thirty thousand souls around the borders
of that bay. Every one of these villages is perfectly accessible
to the missionary. He may leave Kulangsu in a boat after break-
fast, visit any one of them he pleases, spend an hour or more,
and return to his house before sunset. Not one of these villages
is included in the " more than twenty," mentioned under date of
Sept. 28.
Our course lay directly through the bay from east to west. At
its western extremity we found several immense tracts of land
reclaimed from the waters, and occupied as rice-grounds. A river
comes down from the north-west, and the land about its mouth
is low and flat, covered with water at high tides, and dry at low
tides. The greater part of this has been banked in. and thus
many hundreds of acres recovered, and made highly produc-
tive, which would otherwise have been a barren, noisome
waste. It was a beautiful sight to look over these extended
grounds, with the little canals winding through them, and to
see the smooth green fields, with the large trees scattered here
and there, and the Chinese houses underneath. A few buffaloes
were grazing about, or rolling like swine in the muddy shores of
the river, and several Chinese were gathering a large kind of rush
which grows plentifully on the river banks. It is dried in the sun
and made into floor mats, and similar articles. Some idea of the
quantity gathered may be learned from this fact, that the mats
JOURNAL TO CHANG-CHOW. 217
made in this region alone are sold every year for seA^eral tens of
thousands of dollars. The western end of this bay is about
twelve or fifteen miles from Amoy. The river which enters it
comes from the N. W. and some two or three miles from its
mouth is the walled town of Hai-teng, which is on the left, or
southern bank of the river. It was about ten o'clock, a. m., when
we passed Hai-teng, and our course still lay up the river to the
N. W. The valley of the river was low and flat, and not very
broad, while on either side rose the steep, bare, unequally-elevated
hills that mark nearly every Chinese prospect I have yet seen.
Villages uncounted were seen in every direction, noble trees and
houses among them, cattle in the fields, and boats in the river.
Oh ! how beautiful it was ! Four or five miles N. W. of Hai-
teng, and on the same side of the river, was the town of Chobey.
It is a much more business-like place than Hai-teng. Numerous
boats were in the river, many lumber-yards were along the banks,
and many people were seen in every direction. On the opposite bank
of the river is a collection of villages, eighteen in number, and
known by the general name of Ota. We were spied by a good
many of the people here, who crowded down to tiie banks to see
us as we passed.
The river here becomes shallower, and the boat in which we
had come thus far drawing too much water, we entered a smaller
one to proceed the rest of our way. It was about the size of a
common whale-boat, had a square mat sail, and being provided
with awnings, was very comfortable. The wind being favorable,
we went along finely; but small as our boat was, it required some
knowledge of the river to avoid the shallows, and we touched
the bottom several times. The water of the river we found to be
delightfully soft and sweet, and, as the Chinese said, it was ex-
cellent for making tea. The river had no general name; alto-
gether we sailed on it about twenty miles, and in that distance
found that it had three separate names. When we first entered
it, it was called the Cho-bey river ; a little further on, the kSanche,
and at Chang-chow, the Nan-mun. These names hterally trans-
lated, are. Stone-horse, Three-branches, and Southern-gate ; I
have since seen it called the Chang-river : this name is given to it
by the .Tesuits in their account of China.
After proceeding al)out five miles from Cho-bey, we went ashore,
and looked about a little, but found there was little of interest to
be seen. A couple of coflins with dead bodies in them, were
lying in the open air under the shadow of some trees. They were
to remain there until a propitious day, and a favorable spot for
their interment should be found. Bodies are thus left uninterred
often for years ; one of these coffins had been so long exposed (hat
it was falling to pieces for very age ; but the superstitions of the
Chinese do not allow them to bury their dead, except at lucky
times, and in places pointed out by their astrologers. It is prob-
able, however, that the astrologers very easily find a place, and
218 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
suitable time, for the burial of the poor. It is only those who are
able to pay that are kept waiting so long. Rice-grounds, fields of
sugar-cane, and brick kilns with red bricks, (the bricks in Canton
province are all blue,) were nearly all we saw. We stayed ashore
hardly five minutes, and yet in that time a score of persons were
running to see us. Not wishing to attract attention before reach-
ing Chang-chow, we pushed off and proceeded. Brick kilns now
became very numerous on each side of the river; the bricks are-'
tolerably well made, and are about as thick and as long as those
made in the United States, but rather broader. A great article
of manufacture at these kilns is the tile, which is very extensively
used for the floors, and entirely for the roofs of houses in China.
Those for the floors are from eight to twelve inches square, and
nearly an inch thick ; those for the roofs from four to six inches
square, and not quite half an inch in thickness. They are laid
on the rafters three and four deep, and are joined with a little
plaster; but the work is commonly unskilfully done, and many
of the houses are leaky.
The greenness and beauty of the fields and the valleys, which
occasionally extended back among the hills, were so different from
the barren appearance of the sea-coast, as to call forth frequent
expressions of surprise and delight. We passed many villages.
Two of them were pointed out to us as being the residence of
Roman Catholics. The account the Pagan Chinese gave us of
them, was, " The// have a goddess whom they worship, and whom
they call the ^ Holy Mother.'" The Chinese call one of their
own favorite divinities, Ma-tsoo-po, the " Holy Mother." What,
then, must they think of the Christian religion, when almost the
only form of it which they see, allows the use of many of their
own ceremonies, and precisely their own forms of speech ! The
similarity between the Romish and Budhist religions is so great,
that some of the early Roman Catholic missionaries to China could
account for it only by supposing that the devil had induced the
Chinese to frame a religion very like theirs in order to cast suspi-
cion and discredit upon them ! These Roman Catholic Chinese
are very little different from the Pagans around them, and though
their profession of the Christian religion is contrary to law, yet it
is overlooked by the officers, and perhaps is unknown at Pekin.
They are occasionally visited by the priests, who secretly enter the
country, and hastily visit such places as these to confirm the peo-
ple in their faith.
About one o'clock, p. m., we arrived at the city, with but little
warning, from the boats or other appearances indicating a large
population, that we were near it. The first distinct intimation we
had of being near it, was the sight of a long high bridge over the
river. A number of the people on shore had already seen us, and
by the time we landed, quite a crowd of men and boys gathered
around us. They were civil, but evidently greatly astonished, as
we were almost the first foreio-ners who had ever been there.
JOURNAL AT CHANG-CHOW. 219
Two small parties of English officers had gone there a few months
previously, but one of them was not allowed even to enter the
city, and the other saw only a very small part of it. We were
the first Americans, and the only Protestant missionaries, who had
ever been there, and we felt some little anxiety as to how we
should be received. We could not have complained of the officers
if they had utterly refused us permission to enter, or had even in-
sisted on our immediate departure. But we were determined to
see the place, and make inquiries concerning it, if we could peace-
ably do so. Accordingly the boatmen carried our luggage, and
our Chinese friend conducted us through the submbs by a near
cut, and we were soon in the city. He then led us, as he said,
towards a house appropriated for the reception of officers from the
other provinces.
It was soon evident that we were something " uncommon."
Numbers of people came in with us, and as we passed through
the streets and were discovered by those ahead of us, the wonder
and the crowd increased. Our complexions and dress, our stature,
and my spectacles, at once diew the attention of everybody. The
shopkeeper turned away from his customer, the carpenter dropped
his plane, and the shoemaker his last, the tailor his needle, and
the apothecary his pill-box, and even the beggar forgot his voca-
tion ; the women peeped out from the doors, and the children ran
on before and stopped to have a good look at us ; old and young,
high and low, were filled with one common feeling of surprise, and
gazed at us as if we had fallen from the clouds.
Our guide professed to know the road, but soon showed he was
ignorant of it ; and after leading us through several crowded
streets in the hot sun, brought us at last to a Httle low dirty tav-
ern, instead of the house appropriated to the reception of foreign
officers, where he had intended to take us. However, there was
no help for it, and to make the best of the matter, we had our
dinner prepared. In Chinese taverns, nothing is provided except
the bare walls, the traveller being expected to carry his own
bedding and procure his own provisions, though the landlord
finds a place to cook, and perhaps gives some little assistance in
the way of service. On going into the house we shut the door to
keep the crowed out, but they were not so easily satisfied, and
being old and crazy, they actually broke it open. One of us was
obliged therefore to stand by it, and let them gaze while dinner
was in course of preparation. They made no effort to molest us,
being, on the contrary, quite good-humored and civil ; but cer-
tainly in all my life I never was so stared at before. On man, all
smiles and politeness, came up, and begged leave to examine my
dress, at the various parts of which he expressed the most un-
bounded admiration. My cap was much better than his, the but-
tons of my coat were kaho, kaho, very much better. My pockets
were an admirable device, while the shoes were a perfect gem !
He was even proceeding to open my shirt-bosom, and pull up my
220 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
pantaloons, but on being told that it was not polite to do so, he
desisted, and with many bows and smiles departed.
While we were eating our rice and eggs, in came an officer
with a crystal button and peacock's feather.* He was rather rude
at first, and made a very slight salutation. He spoke only the
Mandarin, or Court dialect,t and had an interpreter, wbo seemed
to be his principal business-man, and with whom we had after-
wards a good deal of intercourse. He was an active man, chewed
a great deal of betel-nut, which made his mouth always red, and
was exceedingly polite. Whenever anything was said, he was all
smiles and attention, shut his eyes and shook his head, and
laughed most heartily ; he could stop laughing, too, just as soon
as he commenced, and could, on occasion, assume a very grave
air and severe tone. On the whole, Hiked him pretty well. The
officer asked our names, profession, age, object in coming, &c.,
and advised us to go away ; but, after a few minutes' conversa-
tion, his manner changed a good deal, and he became much more
polite, and was even curious to inspect our knives and forks, and
articles of dress. While we were engaged with him. in came an-
other officer, a tall, slender, gentlemanly man, and, probably, a
Tartar. He, likewise, wore a crystal button ; his robes were
beautifully clean and neat ; and his manners were exceedingly
polished, amounting in some respects almost to over-refinement.
He was dressed in his official cap, and black satin boots, which
came up to his knees, a beautiful blue silk robe reaching beneath
the knees, and over this a dark maroon-colored silk-garment,
reaching to the waist, with bright gold buttons in front. He also
had six or seven attendants, one of whom was the tallest man I
have seen in China. He was over six feet two inches in height,
and appeared cpiite out of countenance when we remarked on his
stature. The Tartar officer bowed to us most politely, and beg-
ged us to be seated, then bowed to the first officer, and we talked
a while. Presently in came a third officer, bearing a gold button,
with another crowd of attendants. One of the attendants carries
a note-book, another the indispensable tobacco-pipe, a third an
* The button is a round ball, a little lar^rer than a pigeon's etjg. on the top of the
cap. A gold (or gilt) is the mark of the lowest grade; an opake white one, of the
second; and a crystal button of the third. There are six other grades still higher,
each distinguished by different colored buttons. The peacock's feather is a bunch of
three or four feathers in an ivory handle, hanging down behind from the rim of the
cap, which is commonly given as the reward of some eminent service This man
was a stout thickset person, with mustaches, and half a dozen attendants. The cap
they all wore was the summer cap. made of plaited straw and of a round conical shape,
with long red silk threads hanging down froai the top all around. His differed from
those of his attendants, only in the fineness of the materials, and in the button on the
top.
t All the civil officers speak Mandarin. They are never appointed to office in their
own province and frequently cannot speak the dialect of those they rule over ; in con-
sequence an interpreter always forms part of their train. The military officers, on the
contrary, are commonly appointed to command in their own provinces perhaps that
they may figlit the more bravely since it is ' pro aris et focis," or as Joab said, " letua
play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God."
JOURNAL AT CHANG-CHOW. 221
umbrella, and so on. This man was of moderate size, not stout,
of a cheerful expression of countenance, extremely active, and
almost fussy in his manners. There was quite a specimen of
Chinese etiquette on his entrance. The other two rose up, bowed,
and begged him to be seated ; he in hke manner bowed, and beg-
ged them to be seated. They bowed again, and all got ready to
sit down, but no one would sit down first ; after standing and
looking at each other till I could not refrain from a smile, they all
sat down together. It was then the old scene over again, who
we were, why we came, what we wanted, and the advice to be
off, it was against the law for us to come, &c. We replied we
could not go, for we wanted to see the city. Tbis they said could
not be allowed without the consent of the chief local magistrate,
who had been sent for, and for whom it was necessary to wait.
In the mean time the attendants got their pipes ready for a
smoke, and the Tartar officer who sat next me, and appeared the
most collected and cool of the whole of them, very politely offered
me his. I begged leave to decline, whereupon he took a few
whiffs in a very good humor, and presently with a graceful bow
went out, and we saw him no more. The little fussy officer
smoked a good deal, making frequent remarks to the first one, to
which he responded briefly InU politely. While wailing for the
local magistrate, another gold-buttoned officer, who spoke the broad
Pekin dialect, and had a hard, coarse, cunning face, and an opake
white-buttoned officer with a very ordinary cast of countenance,
came in. They smoked and talked, and Mr. Abeel gave each of
them a tract, which they received very pohtely. The crowd at
the door was now large, and as the officers' attendants, and even
the officers themselves, had very little command over them, it was
evident they were becoming uneasy. While thus engaged, in
came, or rather rushed, the local magistrate. He was a tall, stout
man, wore a gold button, and was a good deal excited. He was
quite rude at first, did not salute us at all, and scarcely bowed to
the five officers already present, but began in a loud blustering
tone to declaim about the impropriety of our coming to Chano"-
Chow, of its being contrary to the treaty, and that we must depart
immediately. Mr. Abeel remarked mildly, but firmly, that though
the treaty allowed foreigners to trade at only five ports, it did not
forbid their going elsewhere ; that we were Americans ; that we
were well-meaning persons, who did not come to trade, but to look
around, see the country, cultivate friendly feelings, and do good.
The old man quite altered his tone, '' Oh ! I know that you are
men of politeness, we are not afraid of you ; but if you come,
others will make it a precedent. You are Americans, and the
Americans and the Chinese are all the same as so many brothers."
He then gave us quite a rhapsody on the Americans. He had
been to Canton, knew them well, and greatly esteemed them, and
wished to have them always for friends; "Well," said Mr. A.,
"this is a strange way to treat your friends and brothers. We
222 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
come to see you, and you turn us away without allowing us to be-
come acquainted with you ; as to our coming being a precedent
for others, they will come, whether you wish it or not, and it is
better to have ' men of politeness' come first, rather than others."
This puzzled the old man, and he did not know how to answer
it. At last he proposed to us not to stay inside the city, but to go
on board a boat, and spend the night on the river. He said he
was afraid the crowd would rob. or ill-treat us. We said we had
no fears, and were willing to risk that. He then said, he feared the
crowd would quarrel among themselves ; but we said, no ! they
were not given to quarrelling, and we did not think them such
fools as to do that. He then said the house we were in was pre-en-
gaged for some stranger of distinction, which was a most palpable
lie, and if we wished to occupy it, we must draw up a petition to
him for that purpose. This would take some time, and he thought,
therefore, we had better go on board the boat. He would find a
very good one for us, would send us down in chairs, would give us
a ffuard durino' the nisrht, and in the morninsf would send chairs
and an oflScer to take us all round the city, wherever we wished
to go. We saw that he felt anxious, and as it would be really
more comfortable to spend the night in a boat than where we were,
we almost concluded to accept the offer, but hesitated for fear all
this should be only a scheme to Jioat us off during the night. It
was amusing to observe how he answered this, " Oh, no, not at all ;"
and he put one hand on his own heart, and one on Mr. Abeel's,
(wlio was the speaker all this time, as my own slight knowledge
of the language did not qualify me for saying anything,) and de-
clared that he was sincere, " Let there be confidence between
friends." Tea was now brought in, and he poured out a cup full,
and emptied it into three cups, drinking one himself, and giving
one to Mr. A., and one to myself We drank a cup all around,
and to his gieat gratification accepted of his offer. It was now
nearly dark. They had our luggage sent down to the boat, had
chairs brought to the door, and escorted us down to the water-side.
We were carried through several streets, one of which was covered
over with yellow and red cloth, and ornamented with numerous
lighted lanterns of all sizes, shapes, and colors. It was a celebra-
tion for the continuance of peace, and a return of health. We
were told on the following day, that the cholera has prevailed this
summer to a frightful extent in Chang-Chow, as many as two hun-
dred persons sometimes dying of it in a single day.
A boat was speedily selected, of tolerably large size, though not
the cleanest or most comfortable I have ever seen, and we duly
deposited ourselves therein. The local magistrate then called the
owner of the boat. Vt'ho went and knelt down on the ground before
him, and received his orders to treat us well, and to sufTer us to
want for nothing. The oflftcers then all went away, and as it was
growing late, and we were heartily tired, we prepared for rest.
But before we had lain down, who should come in but the inter-
JOURNAL AT CHANG-CHOW. 223
preter ; he came from the local magistrate to beg us to go away
that night. The Yo-tae, or highest ofhcer of the place, had said
tliat we must not remain. We laughed, and told him this was
ridiculous, that the local magistrate had given us his word and
honor that we should stay, had put his hand on his heart, and told
us there must be confidence between friends, and was this the way
to show it ? The interpreter was a shrewd, sensible man, and
seeing we had the best of the argument, and were disposed to
maintain it, did not press the matter. He laughed in his peculiar
manner, and saying that he would come early in the morning to
accompany us around, he departed, and we lay down to sleep.
Thursday, Oct. 5. The morning being bright and pleasant, we
started for a walk before breakfast, and the lower bridge being
hard-by the place where our boat was anchored, we went there
first. It is built on twenty-five piles of stone about thirty feet
apart, and perhaps twenty feet in height, above the surface of the
water. Large round beams are laid from pile to pile, and smaller
ones across in the simplest and rudest manner : these are then
covered with earth, and the upper part is paved with bricks or
stone. One would suppose that the work had been assigned to a
number of different persons, and that each had executed his part
in such manner as best suited his own fancy, there being no regu-
larity in the paving; bricks and stone were intermingled in the
most confused manner, and the railing was sometimes of wood,
and sometimes of stone. The length of some of the stones used
in paving the bridge was very remarkable ; some of them were
eight, others eleven, others fourteen, and three of them eighteen
paces each, in length, so that these last must have been about
forty-five feet long, and two or three broad. They were of un-
hewn granite, but from the constant crowd of passengers for a
hundred years or more,* were worn quite smooth. The bridge
averages eight or ten feet in width, and about one-half its length
on either side was occupied by shops in which various articles,
principally eatables, were exposed for sale. I may remark here
that the short account of this city contained in the work of Abbe
Grosier, on China, which is compiled from the memoirs of the Jes-
uit missionaries, contains several mistakes. The work referred to
speaks of but one bridge, whereas, there are two ; it gives that one
bridge thirty-six arches, whereas there are but twenty-five, and
they are not, in any sense of the word, arches, being simply tim-
bers laid from pier to pier. It also speaks of the " two ranges of
shops furnished with the most precious things of China, and the
rarest merchandises of foreign lands." If this account were true in
the days when the Jesuits went through the land with the utmost
freedom, it is not so now, for the articles we saw in these shops
were of the commonest and coarsest kind. It also says, that since
" the tides reach regularly to Chang-Chow, this place has become
* We did not learn when the bridge was built — but the natives told us it was re-
paired in the time of Kang-he, more than one hundred years ago.
224 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
the resort of a multitude of vessels, by means of which a com-
merce is held with Amoy, Pow-hou, and Formosa, and from hence
depart all the Chinese who go to traffic at the Philippine islands :"
■ — all this is to be taken with large allowance. The tide does reach
Chang-Chow, but eveji at high tide, only the smallest vessels can
come up so far — and when the tide is out, a common whaleboat
is in danger of grounding. I take it for granted, therefore, that
no vessels go from this city, either to Formosa or the Philippine
islands ; and certainly, though there are a goodly number of small
boats in the river, there are no vessels there fitted to encounter a
sea voyage. From Amoy vessels do go to all the parts mentioned
above, and to many others, and the goods they bring back are
conveyed in smaller vessels to the city of Chang-Chow ; but the
statements just referred to (see Grosier's "La Chine," vol. 1, p. 96,)
are not sanctioned by what we saw. If the accounts the Jesuits
have given of other cities of the empire, are equally defective and
erroneous, we have small reason to thank them for their contribu-
tions to our stock of knowledge of China. The reader of Abbe
Grosier will not find one of the particulars of the following account
in his work.
There were many persons passing and repassing, as we crossed
the bridge, and the various odors that filled the air were not the
most agreeable. A person who wishes to live among the Chinese,
and in daily contact with them, will do well to ponder the advice
given by Sir Astley Cooper to a young man who wished to attend
lectures on Anatomy and dissection. " The first thing you nuist
learn, sir, is to disregard your nose." Having crossed the bridge,
and passed through a village at the end of it, we went along the
southern bank of the river to the second bridge, which is about a
mile from the first, and similarly constructed. On coming to it,
our guides pointed a little further, and told us there was a temple
there worth seeing. We accordingly kept on, and were soon well
repaid for our additional walk, by a sight of one of the oldest
buildings I have ever seen. It was a temple said to have been
built in the Suy dynasty, about twelve hundred years ago. The
various gateways and small buildings usually found in front of
Chinese temples, were decayed and in ruins. Two pools on either
side of the main entrance, were covered with the broad-leaved
water-lily. The main building, which is of wood, is very high,
and every pillar, board, stone, and tile, bore the marks of ex-
treme age. On going in, we were utterly astonished. Seven
gigantic images, in sitting or standing postures, gilded and
painted, but faded and dusty, and tarnished with age, were ar-
ranged across tlie middle of the temple ; while on either side was
a row of fifteen Chinese worthies, either sitting or standing, and as
large as life. Behind the seven first images were three others :
the very smallest of the ten was at least eight feet in height, while
the largest, if they had been standing, would have been fifteen or
eighteen. An immense drum occupied one corner of the room.
JOURNAL AT CHANG-CHOW. 225
and a bell another. The roof was most curiously composed of
carved wood, and inscriptions in various styles of Chinese writing
were painted, and gilded, and carved on the pillars, walls,
ceiling, and tablets of the temple. It had been repaired in
Kang-he's time,, though it was now in a sad state from age and
neglect. It was sickening to look on the gloomy monsters whom
this people worship as their gods, and to witness the ingenuity and
expense lavished on these dumb idols, and to think of the dreadful
degradation of the people that can worship such works of their own
hands. Yet it is also cheering to think that their superstitions
are old, and many of them seem almost ready to vanish away.
Not a great many new temples are built, and those already exist-
ing are often in very poor repair. The people appear to have little
reverence for their idols, and their worship consists of little else
than a heartless round of unmeaning ceremonies. Oh, for that
time when idols shall be utterly abolished !
From the main temple, we went to a small side building, which
contained a single idol, standing, with one hand folded on the
breast, and the other hanging open by the side. I got up on the
pedestal, wliich was three feet high, and reaching with my um-
brella, could barely touch the hand that was laid across the breast.
The open hand was two feet long, and the whole image could
have been little less than twenty feet high. It was cut out of one
solid rock, which formerly occupied this spot ; without removing
it, they hewed out the image and erected the house over it. We
returned to the main building, and standing directly in front of the
images there, Mr. Abeel addressed the crowd in their own lan-
guage, on the folly of worshipping idols that could neither see, nor
hear, nor speak ; telling them, also, of the way of life, through
Jesus Christ. About three hundred persons were present, many
of whom listened with attention ; some questions were asked, and
they assented very freely to the truth of what was told them.
vVhile thus engaged, we were surprised by a visit from the inter-
preter, who had gone down to the boat to see us. and finding we
had strolled away, had followed us here, wondering why we had
gone off without Malting for the chairs. He was extremely polite,
and accompanied us across the second bridge, and back to our
boat. After breakfast, we had a visit from the little fussy officer.
He had a g»eat many questions to ask about our modes of writing,
articles of food, clothing, &.c., all of which were new to him. He
expressed a great deal of surprise when he learned that our sur-
names are frequently of two, three, and even four syllables. The
Chinese surname has rarely more than one.
Breakfast being over, we entered the chairs provided for us, and
being escorted by the interpreter, and two or three of the officers,
proceeded through the city. We were carried through several
streets, some of which were narrow and offensively filthy, but
many of them were wide, i. e. for a Chinese city, say eight, ten,
and even twelve feet, and lined with pretty good-looking houses.
15
226 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
The furniture shops, and a few of the clothing estabhshments
looked very well. We passed several carpenters' and shoemakers'
shops, apothecaries' shops, and book-stores ; at the doors of the
latter stood large cards with sze shoo, woo King, Tseeti tsze wan,
the Four Books, the Five Classics, the Thousand Character Classic,
&.C., in staring capitals, reminding us of similar displays in the
streets of our own cities. We also passed through several mar-
kets well supplied with very fat pork, dried fish, poultry, and vege-
tables in abundance, though not in great variety. There were
shaddocks, large persimmons, pine-apples, pears, plantains, sweet
potatoes, sugar-cane, radishes, ifec. &.c. Crowds followed us as
usual, and we had no reason to complain for want of attention.
The word hwan liwanna! (foreigaers !) uttered by ever)^ one who
saw us, was the signal for all those through whose quarters we pass-
ed, to leave their work and gaze upon the newly-arrived visitors.
We were carried to the north-west corner of the city, and pres-
ently found ourselves in an open space with rising ground be-
yond, and a very large temple directly in front. It was built in
the Tang dynast}'^, from nine hundred to twelve hundred years
ago, and bore the marks of age, thougfi in much better repair than
the one we had previously visited. The scene presented when
the doors were thrown open and we entered, was quite unexpect-
ed. Eight gigantic figures, even larger than those we had previ-
ously seen, were arranged across the temple. Some of them
seemed almost to support its high roof on their heads: thirty-six
Chinese sages occupied either side, in rows of eighteen each. The
roof of the temple was constructed in the most elaborate manner,
and was supported by several noble wooden pillars. The most
curious things we saw, were a couple of large lockers or cupboards,
closed and locked. They were about eight feet square and two
feet deep, and their contents were unknown. The people all de-
clared most seriously that they had not been opened for years, and
if they should be opened, death would surely come out in some
terrible form, or some dreadful plague would visit the people.
The grounds of the temple were quite extensive, and numbers
of houses for the residence of the priests, and the entertainment
of strangers, were scattered around. Some of them were falling
to pieces through very age. Behind the main building we were
shown a smaller one, dedicated to Choo-foo-tsze, the celebrated
commentator on the Four Books. He was a native of An hwuy
province, but had been for some time the prefect or chief ruler at
Chang-Cliow. His house, which is in the centre of the city, and
is quite large and high, was pointed out ; and we were told, that
when built, the main beam of the roof was suspended in the air.
He declared that if any unfaithful or wicked ruler ever entered
the house, the beam would fall and crush him, but since his time,
the beam has very considerately taken its proper place in the wall.
Behind the temple the ground rose steeply, and three of its sum-
mits were crowned with little open towers. We climbed up in
JOURNAL AT CHANG-CHOW. 227
the hot sun, expecting to obtain an extended prospect, but the
scene that met our eyes greatly transcended our expectations.
Fancy an amphitheatre thirty miles in length by twenty in
breadth, hemmed in on all sides by steep, bare, pointed hills, a
river running through the plain, an immense city at our feet,
with fields of rice and sugar-cane, noble trees and numerous vil-
lages stretching away in every direction. It was grand and beau-
tiful above every conception I had ever formed of Chinese scenery.
The eye wandered over that immense plain, and returned again
and again to the contemplation of particular points, till we were
almost wearied by the sight of so much magnificence : and when
we came to particulars, the wonder was increased rather than di-
minished. Beneath us lay the city. We could trace its walls in
nearly every direction. It would have been nearly square, had
not the southern wall curved outwards from following the course
of the river. It was very closely built, as almost all Chinese cities
are, and bad a vast number of large trees in every part, within^
and around. On inquiring the number of inhabitants, our guide
answered, that in the last dynasty it had numbered seven hun-
dred thousand souls, and now there were more. He thought
there were a million of people within the walls. This is probably a
large estimate, though it is the one commonly given by the Chinese:
— yet allowing only half their estimate, how large a number is
even that ! The villages around also attracted our attention, and
I tried to count them, but after enumerating thirty-nine of large
size, distinctly visible, in less than half the field before us, I gave
over the attempt. It is certainly not going too far to say, that in
that plain, there are at least one hundred villages ; some of them
may be small, but many of them would number their hundreds
and even thousands of iniiabitants. Oh, what a field for missions
is here, if the country were but open, and the churches ready to
enter it ! How many, many souls there were beneath our eyes,
all ignorant of the true God, and of the way of life. The prospect
before us was surprisingly beautiful, but alas, for those who dwell
amidst those fair scenes, where
" Every prospect pleases, and only man is vile !"
Oh, how often does the thought come across the missionary's
mind in China, " multitudes, multitudes !" but alas, they are
scattered, as sheep having no shepherd. Oh, that Christians
could but see them, and have compassion upon them. Then
would they pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth more labor-
ers into his harvest, for the harvest truly is plenteous, but the
laborers are few. This country will yet be opened. The doors
have already begun to unclose, and no human power is able to
shut them again. What though they move but slowly, and grate
harshly as they turn on their rusty hinges, they move none the
less surely for all that ; and the field that is opened to us, by the
first unclosing, is so vast that our numbers are quite insufficient
228 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE
to occupy it. What then will be the case when the whole coun-
try is thrown open ? When we have properly occupied the five
ports now open, and are ready to extend our efforts beyond, it
will be time enough to wish for a larger field. Doubtless God
will give us a larger field before we are ready to enter on it.
We went back to our boats as we came, except that we walked
through several of the streets, much to the discomfort of our leader,
who did not fancy walking through the narrow, crowded streets,
when he might as easily have rode. We went into several shops,
and priced several articles, but saw nothing we cared to buy ex-
cept some lanterns, and some excellent sugar-house molasses.
The goods were commonly plain and coarse, and the showy ones
were unsubstantial. Beautiful as the city looked from a distance,
it did not so well bear close inspection. I have seen but little in
China that does. The streets were rather wider and many of
them were cleaner, than those seen in the Chinese cities hitherto
visited by foreigners, though this is not saying much. Most of
the houses had wooden fronts, and apparently brick or plaster
walls ; very few were floored : they commonly have only the
ground, or, at best, tiles under their feet, and the furniture of a
great majority of their houses is most inferior in kind, and scanty
in quantity. Over the door of nearly every house there was an
open-mouthed tiger painted. The Chinese are certainly as great
strangers to the virtue of cleanliness, as any people so far advanced
in civilization as they really are ; it will require a long training to
give them those habits of neatness and order requisite to real com-
fort. I know these are disagreeable truths to those fond of ro-
mance, but the missionary to the Chinese must lay aside many
romantic ideas, and accustom himself to many things unpleasant,
and to some that are almost revolting to his finer feelings. The
main thing is, neither to suffer himself to be so disgusted with
their deficiencies as to cease compassionating them, nor to sink to
their low level, when he ought rather to bring them up to his own
standard.
After dinner we went up in a boat some distance above the city,
and walked among the rice-grounds and sugar-canes. How much
the latter reminded me of the luxuriant corn-fields of Maryland !
We saw several men watering the rice-grounds by means of the
chain pump, which is worked by the foot, and is described in
Davis's China, ch. 19. This may be the same contrivance that
was used in Egypt, and is referred to in the Scriptures : " thou
sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot as a garden of
herbs ;" Deut. xi. 10. The people gathered around us, and Mr. A,
addressed them in two different places. Some of them attended
carefully, but most of them seemed more disposed to examine our
dress than to listen to religious discourse.
We returned to our boat, and concluded to go in her to Cho-bey
at the change of the tide. We had seen nearly all we wanted at
Chang-Chow, and had succeeded in our object in visiting the city,
JOURNAL AT CHANG-CHOW. 229
quite as well as could have been expected. Our object, it will be
remembered, was not so much to distribute tracts,* and perform
direct missionary labor, as it was to see the country, obtain infor-
mation respecting the people, and learn what prospect there was
for missionary labors among them. On this last point, some re-
marks will be found in the sequel.
The boat in which we had lodged was owned by an old man
and his wife. She was above seventy years old, and according to
the universal custom in the Fuhkeen province, wore flowers,
which in their freshness and bloom, contrasted strangely with her
gray hairs. On inquiring whether infanticide were common in
this region or not, she replied, that it was on shore, though not
among the people who live in the boats. Hearing a little child
cry, and asking whose it was, she said that it was a little girl
which she had found exposed on the banks of the river, and had
taken to bring up. This was the fourth child she had rescued
after they had been exposed by their parents, but the three previ-
ous ones had died before growing up. The old woman had a little
grandson, nine or ten years old, and said she meant to bring up
the little girl she naw had, for his wife.
Friday, October 6. Arrived at Cho-bey before daylight, and soon
after sunrise went ashore to see the place. It is a walled town,
but the part within the walls is by no means so extensive as that
without. Here, as elsewhere, crowds followed us, noisier too, and
ruder than those of Chang-Chow, though they offered us no man-
ner of insult, and most readily allowed us to pass wherever we
chose. We found it quite a large and populous place, stretching
at least a mile along the shore, and I know not how far back from
the river. It is a busy, bustling place of trade ; the shops were
crowded with goods, commonly of a very coarse quahty, and the
streets thronged with people. For dirt and filth, it excels every
other place I have seen, and some of the streets were actually
sickening. Several persons who had been to Amoy, recognized
Mr. A., and one of them, who had been a patient of Dr. Cum-
ming's at Ku-lang-su, volunteered to guide us through the streets,
which are so narrow, from three to twelve feet wide, and so
crooked, that we should have found it difficult to proceed alone.
The number of fresh fish in the markets was really surprising.
The river is here not one-fourth of a mile wide, and hardly six
feet deep, and yet as far as we could learn, it supplies the whole
of the teeming population of both its banks, including those of the
cities of Chang-Chow, Cho-bey, and Haeteng. Here we saw im-
mense numbers of fine large fish, fresh from the water, and excel-
lent in flavor, as we proved by experiment. After walking till we
were tired, we stopped in front of an idol temple, and Mr- A. ad-
* I should have mentioned that the officers to whom we gave the tracts on our first
arrival, toiil us afterwards that they had read them carefully, and higiily approved of
their doctrines. Part of this is. doul)tless, mere Chinese politeness, but the perusal of
the tracts may, with God's blessing, lead them to the truth.
230 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
dressed the crowd that gathered around us. They were quite at-
tentive, and the questions asked by several of them, showed that
they understood what was spoken to them.
Being- heartily tired, and having no wish to return to the crowded
streets of Cho-bey, we started, after breakfast, for Haeteng. The
tide was against us, but two men rowed us there, a distance of
four or five miles for one hundred cash, or about nine cents. It
was about eleven o'clock when we reached Haeteng, and having se-
cured a boat to convey us to Amoy in the afternoon, we started
for a walk. The city is surrounded by a high wall, which on the
side next the river is double. The outer wall ran close alongside
of the little stream where our boat was anchored, and when we
entered the gates we found a large space between the outer and
inner walls, almost wholly occupied by gardens and rice-grounds.
Ascending the outer wall, we walked some distance, and as there
were but few houses, we were not annoyed by a crowd. Presently
the outer wall came right against the inner one, which was some
four or six feet higher, and to avoid going round some distance we
climbed over it, and walked along the ramparts. The wall is
about fifteen feet high, and five feet thick, and is built of stone,
but did not appear strong. The plain outside of the wall was ex-
tensive, and was occupied by rice-grounds ; there were no villages
within a mile or two of the side where we stood, but some distance
off, we could see several of large size. The city itself we could
not see, there being so many trees within the walls as quite to
prevent our seeing where most of the houses lay. After walking
a quarter of a mile along the wall, we went down looking into a
new and neat temple, and strolled through several of the streets.
They were wider and far neater than any we had seen elsewhere,
but we saw very few people. Perhaps it should be said, compara-
tively few, for we had become so accustomed to crowds, that a
hundred persons behind us seemed quite a small assemblage. In
the course of our walk we saw a couple of stages, on which some
actors in gaudy dresses were performing games for the amusement
of the audience. Their music was anything but agreeable, but
we did not stop to witness the performances, as we found that we
were attracting more attention than the players. It was now
noon, the sun was hot, we had been wearied at Cho-bey in the
morning, besides being almost overpowered by the excitement of
the two previous days, and the wind being ahead, it was impor-
tant to secure the favorable tide, which was now making for Amoy.
Accordingly we turned our faces homeward, and at sunset re-en-
tered our houses in Ku-lang-su ; glad and thankful for the won-
derful things we had seen, the favors received, and the mercies
enjoyed during our three days' excursion.
In looking back over this excursion, and over the whole of my
voyage, there are several points that deserve to be prominently
brought forward ; and though my journal is already long, a few
remarks on each will not be out of place.
JOURNAL AT AMOY. 231
1, The attentive reader of this journal will have been struck
with the frequent reference to the amazing populousness of the
country ; but it is impossible to convey any adequate idea of the
real state of the case. If the cities of Boston, New York, Phila-
delphia and Baltimore were situated in a valley forty miles long,
and ten or fifteen broad, and the whole intervening country were
so thickly covered with villages that a man should never be out
of sight of one or more of them, still the population of that valley-
would not be as great as is the population of thai part of China,
of which the preceding pages speak. At seven o'clock in the morn-
ing we were at Amoy ; by two o'clock, p. m., we had passed
Haetengand Cho-bey, and were anchored at Chang-Chow. Here
were four cities, any one of which would be a city of the first size
in the United States, and around these four cities, there must be
at least two hundred villages and towns ; and this is not all. for
within thirty miles of Amoy, in another direction, is the city of
Tung-an, said to be twice as large as Amoy, with, I know not how
many towns and villages in its neighborhood. The mind is over-
whelmed to think of this immense population, numerous as the
sand on the sea-shore, and all so closely crowded together, and so
easily reached, by water communication, for in a boat you may
go to any one of those places in less than a single day. If the
country around each of the other ports is as populous, as we now
know that around Amoy to be, and the probability, from all I can
learn, is that it is quite as populous, then what fields are here for
Christian effort ! I am astonished and confounded, and even, after
wliat I have seen, can scarcely believe the half of what must be
true respecting the multitudes of people who live in Chma, and
the multitudes who are perfectly accessible to the efforts of the
missionary. This leads me to remark,
2. The facilities for access to the people. It is hard for one who
has not been here in former times, rightly to appreciate this sub-
ject. Two years ago, the protestant missionaries were confined to
Canton and Macao, and in neither of these places were they al-
lowed free access to the people, or those opportunities of social
intercourse with them, that are indispensable to the full success
of the missionary work. Now. how changed is the scene ! Here
are four large cities, with innumerable villages around them, where
we have free access to the people, without encountering the preju-
dices that so hindered us at Canton and Macao. Around each of
these four cities, there are many other large and populous cities,
between which, and the cities to which foreigners may freely come,
there is constant intercourse. It is true we are not allowed to go
to these other cities. The government at Pekin still prohibits for-
eigners from straying beyond certain limits. This was evident
from the opposition we met from the officers at Chang-Chow. But
it is impossible for this exclusive system to continue long. It has
already received its death-blow, and everything conspires to hasten
its fall. Foreigners will visit these interior cities, the people will
232 MEMOIR OP WALTER M. LOWRIE.
see them and talk about them, and wonder why the government
refuses to allow them to enter the country. They will come and
see us at the ports already opened, they will be influenced by what
they see and hear, and by the extension of commerce, and the oc-
casional visits of those who go into the interior. Our visit to
Chang-Chow will not soon be forgotten by the thousands who then,
for the first time, saw a foreigner. Our being known as religious
teachers.-and being so respectfully treated by the officers, will have
its influence ; and I do not despair of seeing the time when our
missionaries shall have their station at Haetengand Chang-Chow,
and Tung-an, and at the large cities around the other ports, just
as freely as they now have at Amoy, and Ningpo and Shanghae.
Yet, even if it should not be so, even if the door should remain
closed against the personal operations of the missionary, longer
than now .seems probable, the way is abundantly open for the dis-
tribution of religious books, and their dispersion into the interior
of the country. Nothing is easier, had we the funds, and the
books, than to send tracts in any quantities, ten, twenty, fifty miles
into the interior, from any of the ports just opened ; and as soon
as we have the men, and suitable tracts ready, we shall need
printing-presses at each of those ports, solely to print religious
books for the people. Verily, God hath done great things for us,
whereof we are glad. The Church is bound to render to God
hearty and constant thanks for the field, which, in his gracious
providence, is thus thrown open before her. Let there be no more
complaints that China is not open, and her people not accessible.
China is open as widely as we can now desire, and so many of
her people are accessible, that the Church will find it difficult, even
if she put forth ten-fold the strength she has hitherto done, ade-
quately to meet their wants.
3. It has been strongly and repeatedly impressed upon my
mind, from what I have lately seen, that to no country in the
world will our Saviour's words, " to t/ie poor the Gospel is
preached," be found so applicable as to China. Many people look
on China as it were some great mine of gold and jewels, where
every man is clothed in silks and faring sumptuously every day ;
but nothing can be further from the true state of the case. There
are many wealthy men in China, and wherever the missionary
goes, he will meet them, and associate with them. But the great
mass of the people are poor, in the strictest sense of the term. It
cannot but be so, where a country is so crowded with inhabitants,
that there is sometimes hardly room to bury their dead out of their
sight, the great majority of the people must be poor. You see it
here, in the coarse clothing they wear, the food they eat, the
homes they inhabit, the furniture they use, and the wages they
receive. You see it in the fact that their only coined money is so
small that it requires twelve hundred to make a dollar, and happy
is he who receives two hundred of these for his day's labor. Let
the missionary who comes to China, bear this in mind. The
JOURNAL IN AMOY. 233
brightest talents are needed in preaching to the poor, but espe-
cially will he need the graces of humility and self-denial, of faith
and of patience, in his intercourse with this people, and his efforts
to instruct them. This is a point that admits of much enlarge-
ment, both in proving the poverty of the people, if that be neces-
sary, and in speaking of the qualifications necessary to one who
labors among them. But a word to the wise and the thoughtful,
is sufficient.
4. It is a sad and melancholy thing to be obliged to refer so
often as I have done to the prevalence of the use of opium in
China. The number of vessels employed, and the amount of capi-
tal embarked in the opium trade, have been slightly referred to in
the preceding pages. At some other time I may give fuller state-
ments on this subject ; but at present, all that need be added, is,
that the half has not been told. The connivance of the Chinese
officers, at the traffic, and the eagerness of the Chinese people to
procure the drug, have also been referred to. I have only further
to say, that wherever I have been in China, I have seen it used.
In all the opium depots along the coast, it is of course freely used.
At Amoy, " every man who can afford to buy it, uses it." In the
little island of San-pan-shan, (he only question the people asked
of the Christian missionary, was, whether he had opium to sell,
and there he saw the floor of the idol temple covered with the half-
stupefied smokers of opium. While at Chang-Chow, one of the
officers came on board the boat where we lodged, and while he
was on board, I perceived the peculiar smell of opium, and look-
ing down, saw two men smoking it in the hold beneath my feet.
I have been made sick by the smell of it, in an opium house at
Canton, and have held my breath as I passed the opium dens in
Macao. I have walked on the steep hill-sides of Hong Kong, and
there have seen common beggars, who dwelt "in cliffs of the val-
leys, in caves of the earth, and in rocks" — and who were too poor
to buy an opium pipe, smoking opium out of a little earthen vessel
in which they had drilled a hole, that it might serve as a substi-
tute for a pipe ! And what hope can there be for such a people?
Men of the world, honorable and upright men too, will sell them
opium for money. The Chinese will buy it, let the emperor
thunder against it as long as he chooses, and the smoker will use
it, though it weakens his body, impairs his mind, stupefies his con-
science, and renders him miserable when not under its influence.
There is no help for them but in God. The use of opium in China
will never be abolished, until a reformation, similar to the temper-
ance reformation of America, commence among the people them-
selves. And that reformation I fear will not commence, and cer-
tainly will not be completed, till the religion of Christ takes deep
root, and becomes the predominant power in China. Let Chris-
tians, then, cry mightily unto God, in behalf of this ancient peo-
ple. His hand is not shortened that it cannot save, nor his ear
heavy that it cannot hear.
234 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Hong Kong, October 16th, 1843.
After getting back to Amoy on Friday, I spent part of that
night and the next day in writing off the preceding account. A
little vessel of some thirty tons burden, here called a Lorcha, be-
ing about to sail for Macao and Hong Kong, I found Mr. Roberts
had taken passage in her. As there was no prospect of a vessel
soon for Hong Kong from Amoy, and as I was anxious to reach
home soon, I concluded to take a passage in her too. Mr. Abeel
did not want me to go so soon ; and certainly, although she prom-
ised a safe and quick passage, there was every prospect of its be-
ing an uncomfortable one, the vessel being so small, and likely to
roll so much. No danger, however, was apprehended, and the
price of passage, only twenty dollars, was an inducement. I should
probably have had to pay forty or fifty dollars, besides waiting
sometime, if I went in a ship. Tlie Lorcha was manned by three
Englishmen and four Chinese, had mat sails, and had recently
come up from Macao against the monsoon.
Monday at noon, though the wind was very high, we started.
Soon got to the mouth of the harbor ; but there we found the wind
so strong, and the sea so high, we were afraid to go out, and there-
fore put back to wait for better weather. The wind abated dur-
ing the night, and the next day, we started again, got to sea, and
were fairly on our course. The wind was still strong, and the sea
rough, but we went on finely, and in six hours were a long way
off' from Amoy. Soon after dark, however, our rudder was broken
by the violence of a wave that struck it. The rudders of all the
Chinese built vessels are very large awkward things, and very apt to
be broken. We found ourselves quite helpless, as we could not
direct the vessel's course at all. Being quite dark, there was
nothing we could do but heave the vessel to and let her drift till
daylight. In so small a vessel, and in such a situation, I con-
sidered it a little unsafe, and kept awake nearly all night, to see
how she v.'ould behave. But though the wind and sea were
strong and rough, she rode like a duck, and though rolling very
much, took in little water. Mr. Roberts was very sea-sick.
Wednesday morning, the weather continued clear but rough,
and we found ourselves drifting alonof the coast. The men tried
to make a new rudder with two bamboo poles, but it would not
work. They then slept several hours, and tried to repair the bro-
ken rudder; but did it so awkwardly that it also was useless.
They seemed disposed then to do nothing but wait for calmer
weather. At this season of the year there was no prospect of the
weather growing worse tlian it then was. I knew, also, that the
course of the wind and current would cause us to drift down along
the coast in sight of land as far as Pedro Branca, a rock forty-five
miles from Hong Kong. After reaching that rock, there would
be danger of being driven out into the open China Sea ; but at
the rate we supposed we were going, we did not expect to see Pe-
RETURN TO HONG KONG. 235
dro Branca for five or six days, and we were pretty sure in that
time that the weather would moderate. 1 conchided, therefore,
that there was no immediate cause of apprehension, but it wag
very unpleasant to think of spending so many days in that little
rolling damp place. Yet there seemed to be no help for it, and I
tried to nerve my mind to bear it. A little spray occasionally
dashed over us, and sometimes a few drops forced themselves
through the windows, and made our sleeping place wet, but, alto-
gether, it was very far superior to the long-boat. During Wednes-
day night I found Mr. Roberts was a great deal alarmed. However,
I was an older sailor than he, and my former " experience" now
wrought " hope," so that I had little fear.
Thursday we drifted on, gradually however edging off further
from the land. One of the men had been along tiie coast fre-
quently, and said he knew where we were, all the time. Accord-
ing to his account, we were drifting at about thirty miles a day.
Thursday night also Mr. Roberts was much alarmed, and I
confess I did not myself like the idea of our getting out so far from
land as we evidently were. However, I slept well, as I had done
the night before. The weather too seemed to be a httle better ;
wind abating some, though the sea was still rough.
Friday morning at daylight we could scarcely see the land, and
by nine o'clock we were out of sight of it. Finding the men
were disposed to do very little, I took the matter in hand, and rep-
resenting the danger of being out at sea, urged the propriety of
running the boat on shore if possible ; and if nothing better offered,
of trying to go to Hong Kong by land. This stirred them up, and
they agreed to try and repair the rudder a little better, and do
something in that way if possible. We saw several fishing-boats
going out to fish, a pretty sure sign that the fishermen anticipated
a calm time. After a little while the men got their rudder repair-
ed. She worked admirably, and we went on our course finely.
" Thank God." said one of the men, " we shall see Pedro Branca to-
night." This was before eleven o'clock, a. m. In half an hour or
so, I said to the captain, "Is that an English or a Chinese vessel,
away otf there?" — "Well, I was just a lookin ; oh, I 'spose it's a
Chinese vessel." The mate looked at it steadfastly, " That ! that's
Pedro Branca ! forty-five miles from Hong Kong !" So it was, we
had drifted a hundred miles further than we thought, and had
come altogether one hundred and sixty miles in less than three
days ! How providential it was we got the rudder repaired at the
time we did ! If we had not, the probability is we should on that
day (Friday) have been in the China Sea ; and then almost our
only hope would have been to have been picked up by some vessel.
Truly goodness and mercy have followed me hitherto.
Saturday morning at daylight we were within ten miles of
Hong Kong. An American vessel was just before us. As soon
as ihe men saw her, they said, " That's an American ship." " How
do you know?" said I. "Oh, any one who's accustomed to vessels
236 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOAVRIE.
can almost always tell an American vessel, they always look so
clean." The remark is one often made.
We anchored at nine o'clock a. m. in Hong Kong harbor, and
having breakfasted, and called the men into the cabin to render
thanks to God for the goodness and mercy received on our voyage,
we went ashore ; we were only one day longer in coming than
we had expected to be, notwithstanding the loss of our rudder.
Most of my friends in Hong Kong declared they never wonld
go to sea with me, as the elements were leagued against me, and
that I must consider myself as settled in Macao or Hong Kong.
The ship we saw, which got in just before us, was the Zenobia.
I did not get my letters till evening, and it kept me till bed-time
to get through with all, — but oh, what news! a beloved
brother hopefully pious ; a donation of ten thousand dollars for
China; five new missionaries preparing for the same great field !
My heart was full. For hours after I went to bed I could not
sleep. Oh how I thought of the past, the present and the future.
I got up and walked about the room ; being " merry," I sang a
hymn ; and knelt down to pray. Oh, it is worth a great deal to
get such news, and so delightful after the unpleasant contrast of
the week previous.
Found the Hepburns had started about ten days before in a
very fine vessel for Amoy ; was very glad to hear it, though I
knew that with the winds they had had they could make little
progress, and would have a dreadfully rough time.
Sabbath (yesterday) I preached in the chapel here in the
morning, and talked to the boys in Mr. Brown's school in the
evening.
To-day I meant to have gone to Macao, but not being able to
get the specie on board the Zenobia safely deposited, I found it
necessary to remain another day. Just about four o'clock, who
should come in but Dr. and Mrs. Hepburn, driven back by the bad
weather. They were far more surprised to see me than I to see
them. They have had dreadful weather, and a rough time.
Poor Mrs. H. was very sea-sick, but looks quite as well as when I
left Macao. They will probably start in a few days to make a
second effort.
3Iacao, October 22d, 1843. The gale in which we lost our
rudder in the Lorcha, and drifted so far, was quite terrific further
south. The vessel in which the Hepburns were, had to put back
with the loss of spars, sails, &c. ; several other vessels had also
to put back, and this last week in Hong Kong, we heard that the
vessel in which Mr. Medhurst and Mr. Milne were proceeding to
Chusan, had lost her top-masts, had her captain swept overboard,
and drowned, and was finally obliged to put into Manila in dis-
tress. Mr. Milne, describing the gale, said that " for ten hours
they expected nothing but death."
This week I have had a regular attack of chill and fever, the
first for thirteen years. It was brought on, I have no doubt, by
RETURN TO MACAO. 237
the exposure of the last six weeks. Last Thursday was the
first day I have spent in bed from sickness, for more than eight
years.
How much reason I have for thankfulness in having been
spared so long ! But a very little sickness would soon knock me
up. My constitution is naturally so weak, that it takes me a long
time to recover from even a short illness. But I felt very little
anxiety on that score. It is a lonely tbing to be sick in a strange
land, but it leads ojie closer to the best and the all-present friend.
It is Saturday night ! everything is quiet, except an occasional
sound of music, reminding me of the notes of a French horn I
once heard on a canal boat, near Pittsburgh. It was a little be-
fore daylight I heard them ; but it was far, far away, and long,
long ago. Now ! there goes a fruiterer, beating a couple of bam-
boo sticks together. You never hear such sounds, so sharp and
clear, in the United States. The sound of music transported me
away, but the sliarp clicking of the huckster's stick sreminded me
again that " I am a stranger in the earth."
October 24th. How sad and mysterious oftentimes are the dis-
pensations of Providence. I must close my journal wilh the death
of the Rev. Mr. Dyer, who has been so long engaged in preparing
Chinese metal type. He came up here in July with the other mis-
sionaries of the London Missionary Society, to attend a missionary
meeting ordered by their society in Hong Kong. After transacting
all the business required, he went to Canton to see the place, and was
there taken with the disease that has prevailed so fearfully in
Hong Kong this year. He began to recover, took his passage in
a vessel going to Singapore, and came down to Hong Kong ; I saw
him there on board his ship, the day I got back from Amoy. He
was recovering rapidly. The vessel came over here, and was un-
expectedly detained several days ; he had a relapse, was brought
ashore to our house, and died this morning at ten o'clock. Yes-
terday his mind was wandering all day, but this morning he was
sensible, knew us all, knew he was dying, said he felt " very
happy," and often repeated " sweet Jesus, sweet Jesus." I was
with him when he died. His spirit seemed to depart with scarcely
a struggle. He had been out in this region seventeen years, and
there is no one who can take the place he occupied. He has left
a wife and four children. Humanly speakmg, his death is a
very great loss. He was a man of piety and prayer, and of a most
Catholic spirit.
Thus we go : one after another is called to his long home. In
one respect, the death of these servants of God is even cheering.
Their work is finished, and thus another part of the great work
God has to do on earth is accomplished. It will not have to be
done again. . . .
238 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Macao, October 26th, 1843.
My Dear Father —
.... In your letter of April 5th, 1843, you express a wish for
some more definite information respecting Morrison's translation
of the Bible, and also the various tracts that have been published
by the missionaries. Some of my previous letters had character-
ized Dr. Morrison's translation as being a very imperfect one, and
unintelligible to the Chinese. You remark, " If Morrison's Trans-
lation be so imperfect, when are we to have a better ? Of his
honesty no one entertains a doubt. His long service for the Com-
pany, and that to their satisfaction, shows his ability as a Chinese
scholar. Now, when are we to get a superior to him as a Chinese
scholar ?"
These suggestions appear to have force, and I do not wonder
that the committee were surprised to hear a Translation by such
a man characterized as exceedingly imperfect. But there are
several considerations that will, I think, remove much of the sur-
prise, and show that, in the nature of things, his translation must
be very defective, and that a better one may reasonably soon be
expected.
It must be borne in mind that Dr. Morrison was the first Prot-
estant missionary who commenced the study of Chinese. When
he commenced it, there were no facilities whatever for the study.
He had to make his own Grammar, and his own Dictionary. He
had to study out every phrase and form for himself and by
himself Now, Dr. Morrison was a man of sound mind and pa-
tient industry, but no one considers him a man of exalted genius.
He could not run through a language, and thoroughly apprehend
its whole spirit, in the compass of a few years ; still less can it be
supposed, tiiat he could speedily master the Chinese language, the
most difficult of all languages, when he was utterly unprovided
with helps for its acquisition. He was in the service of the Com-
pany, and perhaps one of the most profitable servants they ever
had ; yet his service for them, afier a ivhile, could have little
benefit on his knowledge of Chinese as far as the translation of
Scripture was concerned. The phrases, and idioms, and general
language he used in their service, were not the kind wanted in
translating the Scripture. The man who is constantly talking
about dollars and cents, and quarrelling, as he was often obliged
to do, with the Chinese, may soon attain a great deal of fluency
in language appropriate to such subjects, but very unsuitable for
a version of the oracles of God. Add to this, that his time was so
constantly employed, first, in preparation of his Dictionary, and,
second, in the Company's service, and what is most important of
all, that his version of the Scriptures was not made after he had
fully acquired the Chinese language, but while he was yet learn-
ing it, and you will see abundant reasons for supposing, a priori,
that it nmst prove a defective one. He commenced it in less than
LETTERS. 239
five years after he first began to study Chinese ; printed the Acts
in 1810, only three years after his arrival in China ; prosecuted
his translation, " with many an aching head from his duties as
translator to the Company," and finished it in 1819. The printing
of it was finished in 1822. And his subsequent revisions and cor-
rections were very, very slight indeed. Here, then, is the state of
the case: — Dr. Morrison, without any assistance, but by his own
unaided efforts, connnenced and prosecuted the study of the Chi-
nese. At a very early period in his studies, he began to translate
and print the Scriptures. He carried on his translation when oc-
cupied with a load of other business ; and he finished it before he
had half finished iiis own missionary life. The time he actually
spent in translation and revision was but twelve years. He had
Dr. Milne's help part of the time, for part of the work ; but how is
it possible that so great a work as the translation of the Bible,
made into so difiicultja language as the Chinese, by so few men,
with, in the nature of the case, such limited acquaintance of the
languages into which and from which they translated, while each
of them had so many other cares and duties pressing on them,
should be otherwise than very defective and imperfect? The
wonder is that they accomplished so much as they did ; but I am
more and more convinced that Dr. Morrison's fame must rest on
his Dictionary, rather than on his Translation of the Scriptures.
You refer to the testimony given by Messrs. Evans, Dyer, and
Kidd, in favor of Morrison's and against Medhurst's Translation.
This is a melancholy subject to refer to. All three of these men
are now deceased. Mr. Dyer was one of the excellent of the
earth, and went to his rest rejoicing, but two days ago. He died
in this house ; and from the desk where I now write, I could hear
him exclaim, ere he departed, "Sweet Jesus, sweet Jesus." But
though he was a good man, and full of faith, he was not in all
respects well qualified to judge of such a matter
The new version is confessedly very imperfect ; but at a late
meeting of most of the Protestant missionaries in China, it was
voted unanimously, Mr. Dyer among them, that the last version
was much superior to any preceding one. Thus the matter now
stands in regard to versions already made.
While the London Missionary Society missionaries were in Hong
Kong, they held, in conjunction with all the then missionaries
there, being altogether about three-fourths of all the missionaries
in China, a convention, to devise measures for a new translation.
I attended one or two of the meetings, and have seen the proceed-
ings of all, — the most of which I approve of The plan is, to take
up the New Testament first ; divide it into five portions, and assign
one to each station where there are missionaries competent to the
task. After each station has finished its portion, it is to send a
copy to every other station. After they have all revised each
other's work, one person is to be selected from each station ; these
are to meet together, and revise and publish the whole. The
240 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Stations are, 1. Ningopo and Shanghai; 2. Fuhchow ; 3. Amoy;
4. Hong Kong and Canton ; 5. Bankok. It is supposed that sev-
eral years, say four or five, will be required to complete the work.
I have my fears that the plan will be found quite too complicated,
and that, from the distance of the stations from each other, it will
not work very well ; while the very different qualifications of the
persons at the different stations will produce a work of very un-
equal merit in its parts. But perhaps it is the best plan that could
well be devised.
In regard to the tracts, many of the reinarks made on the
translation of Morrison's Bible are equally applicable to them.
They have been made in the early stages of the missionaries'
studies. One or two of Medhurst's are very good, and one or two
of Milne's. Tfie Two Friends, by the latter, is perhaps the best
Chinese tract we have, and it is generally understood. Yet only
a short time ago, ni}'^ Chinese teacher, who has been associating
with foreigners for ten years, and understands our modes of
thought very well, while reading it came to a sentence which
puzzled him. At last he said, ''Oh, now I understand it, but I
don't think that a Chinese who is unacquainted with the foreign-
ers would." Indeed I do not think the true nature of the Chinese
language is yet understood by most of those who study it. It is
common to call it a nionosi/llabic language. It is no more mono-
syllabic than our good old Saxon English : for there are hundreds
and thousands of dissyllables in Chinese, and the want of a
proper knowledge of these, is one of the great defects in our ac-
quaintance with the language. Mr. Medhurst was studying it
before I was born ; and yet he told me not long ago, that he was
often puzzled even yet by the compound characters.
There is no foreigner living perfectly acquainted with the lan-
guage ; and even those who speak it really very well, often make
mistakes in writing it, and use phrases and idioms that a Chinese
never uses and does not understand. A learned man among the
Chinese, may be able to pick some sense out of their writings ;
but a common man, and the mass of our Chinese readers are and
will be connnon men, are often at a loss to find the sense. The
subject is strange to them ; the ideas are entirely new, and it is
no wonder if an uneducated man is mystified, when a character
is used in an improper sense. The mistakes made sometimes are
quite ludicrous ; and occasionally things are printed in Chinese
that are ridiculous. For example, last January Mr. pub-
lished a Chmese Christian Almanac. In the almanac was an
account of the planets. Wishing to say, that Jupiter had four
moons, he actually transferred the word satellites into Chinese,
making sa-tie-urh-le-tee out of it ! I could hardly believe my eyes
when I saw this. Why he did not say that Jupiter has sze yue,
four moons, I cannot conceive ; but, I am sure it would puzzle a
Chinese, as much as it would an Englishman, to know what sa-
tie-urh-le-tee meant.
LETTERS. 241
A good many tracts have been written in Chinese. Some of
them are good, and deserve to be widely circulated ; some might
be made good by careful revision ; some, and I suppose by far
the larger part, ought to be entirely rewritten. I do not think
that this is at all to be wondered at. See what a language we
have to learn ; see how short a time the majority of Chinese mis-
sionaries have spent in studying it ; see how hastily many of
them have written after commencing to learn it. Tlie wonder
rather is, that so much that is good has been written. How
many of the translations and productions of the first missionaries
to India are now in use? It is less than forty years since the
first missionary came, and may be said to be less than thirty since
anything was done here, in the way of direct missionary effort;
for there were but two before Mr. Med hurst, and he has been here
but twenty-seven years. Our numbers are increasing ; great
variety of talent is coming into the field; the facilities for learn-
ing the language are daily increasing, and with the blessing of
God, I trust that ere long a brighter day will break, it dawns al-
ready upon the literature of China. In the mean time, however,
we shall not hasten the coming of that day, by saying there is
not now a darkness around us. Rather let our eyes be opened
to see how dark it is, and then we shall know belter how much
light we want, and how much we want light. It is not necessary,
I suppose, to bring these statements before the public ; but it is
absolutely necessary that those who manage the affairs of the mis-
sion here should know precisely what the state of the case is. I
trust the committee will not consider these remarks as discourag-
ing in their nature. I look on them as quite the reverse. Let
us know wherein we have failed in times past, and then the way
is clear to avoid such failure in time to come. The experience
of the past is gain to us for the future. The work, to be sure, is
very difficult, but therefore, so much the more must we exert
ourselves ; and while we exert ourselves, let us look to the
strong for strength, and to the wise for wisdom. I never feel so
much hope of ultimate success in our work, as when the view of
the difficulties here presses most strongly; because then I am
driven away from all dependence on human strength, and seek
to rest on that almighty arm which is ever stretched out, and to
look for the guidance of him who is infinite in council and in
knowledge.
But I have perhaps written enough on the subject of transla-
tions and tracts. . . .
Your affectionate son, W. M. Lowrie.
Macao, October 27th, 1843.
My Dear Father —
The past fifteen months have been times of sore trial, in one
respect or other, to the Protestant missionaries in China. I have
16
242 MEMOIR OP WALTER M. LOWRIE.
been struck, in looking over the list of those in this part of the
world, to see that scarcely a single one has escaped without some
personal affliction, either of sickness or accident, or some deeply
painful bereavement. Mrs, Boone died at Ku-lang-su, August
30th, 1842, and her husband has since been obliged to return to
the United States, partly on account of his own impaired health,
and partly for the sake of his motherless children. Mrs. Dean
died in Hong Kong, in March, 1843. Dr. Hepburn, Dr. Hobson,
and Mr. Stronach, have each lost a son within the year. Dr.
Lockhart has been called to mourn the death of an only child in
tlie same lime. Mr. Medhurst, Mr. Milne, and myself, have either
been shipwrecked or most narrowly escaped it. Mr. Brown's
house in Hong Kong was attacked and plundered by a gang of
robbers in tlie night. Mr. McBryde has been obliged to return to
the United States, from failure of health. But a day or two since,
Mr. Dyer, who had spent seventeen years in laboring for the Chi-
nese, was removed by death, when absent from his family ; and
almost every other missionary here has had attacks of sickness
more or less severe. We have all met with a severe loss in the
death of the Hon. John R. Morrison, who died on the 29th of last
August. He was the eldest son of the late Dr. Morrison, the first
Protestant missionary to China. There was bitter mourning here
when he died, for probably no foreigner in China was so popular
with all classes as he. His acquaintance with the language and
manners of the Chinese, his mental abihties, and his business hab-
its, rendered his services invaluable to the English government, and
his death at this period, has been well called " a national loss."
His kindness and urbanity of manners, and his readiness to oblige,
made him a favorite with all who knew him; and his ardent piety,
his influence, and his sincere desires to assist the missionaries in
their labors, make us all feel that we have lost our best human
friend in China. 1 shall not soon forget the deep feeling with
which he once said to me, " I wish you would call on me when-
ever you think I can be of service to you. I cannot be a mission-
ary myself, but I wish to make it my first object to assist those
who are, and to further the cause of Christ in China." Such I
doubt not were his real sentiments ; and his actions showed that
they were not mere feelings. I fear we shall not soon see his
equal among us again.
It is a question of much interest, what is the design of God in
sending all these afflictions on his servants here, and in thus re-
moving one and another apparently so well qualified for his ser-
vice, and whose loss it is so difficult to replace. It may be that
we have grievously offended him by our lukewarmness in his ser-
vice in times past ; and thus he corrects us for our iniquities.
When his judgments are among us may we learn righteousness,
while our time lasts, may we be diligent in his service !
Perhaps these afflictions are intended to teach another lesson.
When God has any great work for any of his servants to do, he
LETTETS. 243
usually prepares them for it by a previous and often painful train-
ing. It may be he has some great work in store to be accom-
pHshed by the missionaries in China ; and by these trying dispen-
sations of his providence, he is exercising our faith and cultivating
our graces, that we may the more acceptably serve him, and the
more skilfully gather in the harvest of this great field. There are
also other considerations worthy to be attended to. A train of
thought occurred to me shortly after hearing of Mrs. Dean's
death, that may, perhaps, not prove uninteresting, and without
further apology I offer it here.
The death of missionaries is in some respects, and especially to
the apprehension of sense^ painful and discouraging. The need
of laborers, particularly in China, is so great, our numbers are so
few, and it is so difficult to obtain more, that we feel the loss of
even one, very sensibly. Especially is this the case, when one so
well qualified for usefulness as Mrs. D. is removed. She had been
here so long as to have made good progress in acquiring the lan-
guage ; and her prospects of continued health were as fair as those
of any of her companions. But she is gone with sudden sickness,
cut down and withered like a flower. Her sun is gone down
while it is yet day, and we are left to mourn her absence. For
her we do not weep. She is "gone into peace, resting upon ber
bed, walking in uprightness." Already it has been said to her,
"Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of
thy Lord !" We sorrow only for ourselves, and for the church ;
and yet our feelings should not all be sorrowful, for there is joy
even to ourselves, connected with thoughts of the departure of the
servants of God.
To the eye of faith, the death of laborers in the great field of
the world, is hardly an object of discouragement. We know that
God directs all things; we know that he has "determined the
times before appointed, and the bounds of men's habitation." " Our
days are determined, and the number of our months is with him ;
and he has appointed our bounds, which we cannot pass." Job
xiv. 5. He has a work for each of us to do, and when our work
is done, he will call us to go and be with him. But surely not be-
fore it is done :
" Man is immortal till his work is done."
We may be sure, therefore, that God would not have called the
spirit of our fellow-laborer away, if she had not finished the work
he had for her to do. What, then, should be our conchision, when
we see one after another departing? Not, surely, that God will
now permit his church to suffer loss for want of their services.
We should rather say, "God, whose plans include everi/ event of
providence, has now Ji?iished another part of his great work;
and having no further employment -Itere for the servant, engaged
in that part of the work, he has sent to call her home."
Thus as one after another is removed, we may say, " Another
244 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
and yet another part of the work is done. It is completed, and
needs not to be gone over again. The tears that have been shed
will not need to fall again; the sorrows that have been endured
are not again to be endured ; the labors that have been perform-
ed will not again be required." To us, with our weak eyes and
feeble sight, the work of each may seem unfinished when they
go ; but it seems not so to God. We know that his own cause is
infinitely dear to him, and He will not suffer it to fail for want of
laborers. If our work is done, and surely He best knows when
it is done, why should we wisli to tarry longer, or seek to detain
our fellow-laborers from the rest, the rewards, and the glorious
crowns that await them ?
To us who are left behind, these bereavements are not in all
respects discouraging. What is our condition, at best? Is it not
one of toil, and of trial, and of trouble — of sorrow and affliction,
of labor and temptation? Do not disappointments cluster thick
around us, and our inward corruptions at times rise up and boil
over, till we are ready to say, "Oh, let me not live always," and
we even dread the idea of long life on earth? Is it not at times
appalling to think of ten or twenty or thirty years of such inces-
sant conflicts and labors? But why thus look forward? Why
trouble ourselves with the anticipations of future evil? What we
fear and shrink from, may never come upon us. We may not
live to see the evil days that shall yet come upon the earth.
Only two short weeks have passed since our friend w^as in health
and vigor. She might have looked forward to as long a life as
any of us. She might have dreaded the evils we anticipate. Now
her trials are over, and over forever. While w^e are still battling
with the storm and the tempest, she is safe in the harbor.
While we often hang our harps upon the willows by the rivers of
Babylon, she is singing in the temples of Jerusalem. Let this be
our encouragement. We know not the time to go. It may be
very near. Behold, " the night is far spent and the day is at
hand." The waves are wasting their strength ; the storm is
nearly over. The battle is almost fought, and the victory is
nearly won. "The time of our salvation is nearer than when
we believed ;" and oh how joyful that salvation will be, after such
trials ! Indeed they will greatly enhance its preciousness, and we
shall not then regret them. Think you that our sister now re-
grets having left friends and home to dwell among strangers ? or
is sorry that here she wandered about, having no certain dwelling-
place? Is it a sad thing to her that here she was tossed on the
rough sea? that all alone she buried her first-born child upon a
strange shore, and in a heathen land? No! Heaven will be the
sweeter, after these bitter draughts; rest more delightful, after
these toils : the haven more charming by contrast of the rough
aea without.
It is encouraging to think that home may be so near. We are
Kke sailors, who have indeed a compass to direct our course, but
LETTERS. 245
no means of ascertaining wlien our voyage shall end. All around
is one wide waste, and sea and sky alone meet our gaze. We
have sailed for many days over these troubled seas, and it may be
many days yet before we make the land ; and yet, to-morrow
morning may show it in full view. Our time cannot be long.
Let this, then, encourage us to bear cheerfully its toils and trials,
and to labor diligently while it lasts.
" The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart ; and
righteous men are taken away, none considering that the righteous
is taken away from the evil to come." If this be so, then lejoice
for those who depart — but pray for those who remain.
Your affectionate son, W. M. Lowrie.
Macao, October 21st, 1843.
Rev. J. C. Lowrie —
My Dear Brother : — .... I am quite at a loss as to my own
future course. It really seems as if Providence did not intend that I
should leave Macao or Hong Kong. Last year I made two efforts
in splendid ships to go to Singapore and failed, but came back
here in safety in an old and leaky ship that required almost con-
stant pumping to keep her afloat. This year I tried to go to
Chusan in a vessel that was very well recommended, and where
every possible precaution had been taken by the other passengers
to have everything on board necessary for the convenience and
success of the voyage. Yet we were most shamefully treated, the
vessel was found to be utterly unfit for sea, and we were obliged
to turn about without accomplishing our voyage. I returned here
in a little boat from Amoy, in which one-half the people out here
would not have ventured to go We did meet an accident, break-
ing our rudder, which might have proved a serious one; and for
a while I almost felt about the sea, as David did of his great
persecutor : "I shall surely perish one day by the hand of Saul."
But through the good hand of our God upon us, we succeeded m
repairing the rudder, and reached Hong Kong in safety after a
quick passage. What am I to think of these things ? Personally
I have no desire to remain in this part of the country, but rather
the contrary. The conveniences of living comfortably may be
enjoyed to a much greater extent here than at any other part ;
but the opportunities for direct usefulness among the people are
far less. My acquaintances all tell me, jokingly, that I am not
to leave Macao ; and indeed for the present I see but little pros-
pect of it. As far as I can see now, I am fixed here for a year
and a half yet. And it is now a pretty serious question, whether
it would not be best to take up this dialect, the Canton. Hitherto
I have attended to the court dialect, as being the one I should
probably find most useful in tiie northern parts.
However, 1 trust my way will yet be made plain. Hitherto the
Lord has led me by ways that I knew not, and hereafter he will
246 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
doubtless lead me by the best road. My hopes have been disap-
pointed more than once ; and yet in every case I have seen after-
wards tliat it was for the best. It is a good thing to be tried with
disappointments, at least it has taught me practically ; patience
worketh experience and experience hope.
I am much obliged to you for your kind offer to replace the
Morning Exercises and the Bible ; but I think you will find if
you look again, that my language is " quite definite ;" that the
latter does not need replacing. It has gone with me through
many different places and scenes, and I value it more than I
could well express. My health continues very good, except that
I had an attack of chill and fever a few days ago, caused proba-
bly by the exposure of my late trip. The trip did me a great
deal of good in other respects. I had been worn down by the
hot summer, but seem to be quite revived and invigorated now.
The thermometer stands a little above 70° now.
I remain your affectionate brother,
W. M. LOWRIE.
P. S. I forgot to mention that I have lately become acquainted
with W. C. Milne, and have been very much pleased with him.
He mentioned having met you in London some years ago, and
wished to be very cordially remembered to you. He lately came
over-land from Ningpo to Hong Kong dressed in Chinese clothes,
wearing a tail, and escaped without detection, until he arrived
within a few miles of Hong Kong. I believe Sir Henry Pottinger
was not at all satisfied, that he made such an excursion. He
described it as having been a very interesting one, and I suppose
will publish some account of it in the Chinese Repository ere
long.
Macao, November 4th, 1843.
To THE Society of iNauiRY in the Western Theolog-
ical Seminary.
Dear Brethren : — On the 27th of July, this year, a letter
was put into my hands, addressed to my colleague in this mission,
the Rev. T. L. McBryde. As you will have learned before now,
he sailed for the United States, early in the month preceding its
arrival. He left with me, however, a discretionary power to open
his letters, and suspecting from the postmark that it was from
your society, I opened and read it. I suppose that a letter from
myself in reply, will be nearly equally acceptable, especially as
I was brought up almost in sight of your Seminary, and have spent
more than half of my life within thirty miles of it.
I can assure you, that it will ever afford me great pleasure to
correspond with you. I have been a theological student myself,
and know the interest that such students feel in letters from mis-
LETTERS. 247
sionaries ; and I can speak from experience too, when I say that
a missionary is glad to receive letters from a society hke yours. It
was interesting to me to read your accounts of the revivals of re-
ligion in the West, for it recalled the memory of other days, when
I also shared in such precious seasons. Dear brethren, you can-
not too highly value, nor too sedulously improve, the opportunities
you now have of intercourse in Christian society, — of laboring
for the good of souls, and especially of being present where the
spirit of the Lord is poured out. Should you ever become mission-
aries to the heathen, there is nothing that, in the review, will give
you more real delight than to recall such times. I have in my
native land mingled in various scenes ; 1 have gone to the literary
feast, the crowded assembly, and the cheerful social circle, and
found pleasure in all ; but I now recall, with far more satisfaction,
the solitary walk over the hills with a single Christian brother,
the visit to the poor old Christian negro's cottage, the little prayer-
meeting in the house where the lame mother in Israel joined in
the song of praise, and the country Sabbath school. I have forgot-
ten many other things, but I have not forgotten the Brainerd meet-
ings of Jeffi^rson College, nor the lime when, in one of the rooms
in your seminary, a classmate and myself bowed the knee in prayer
to our common Father. Lay up a store of such things for recollec-
tion, and they will cheer many a lonely hour in your future course.
Your letter asks sev^eral questions, which I will answer, and
also, if you permit, will add some otuer items. You ask what
special preparation is necessary for the field of labor ? I think,
principally those of a spiritual nature. I mean, strong faith
to believe God's promises that the world shall be converted, for
you will find little in the outward aspect of things to make
you think so ; patience and perseverance, for both are needed.
You may have to labor here for many years, and see little appar-
ent fruit to your labor. Above all, put on charity, which is the
bond of perfectness. Cultivate the spirit of love and forbearance,
for you will find abundant occasion for its exercise. I trust you
have none of those romantic notions that will induce you to think
a missionary a superior being. We are men of like passions
with others. We come from different parts of the world with differ-
ent views, from the influences of very different states of public
feeling. We come to a country where there is no public feeling,
where each man must judge for himself, where there is no st;md-
ard of public opinion such as you have at home. In such circum-
stances, it is natural to expect great diversity of views, and noth-
ing but the spirit of meekness, and forbearance, ai;d love will
enable you to live happily with your fellow-laborers. The longer
I live, the more I am struck with the expressiveness of those reit-
ated commands of our Saviour in his last address to his disciples,
to love one another. Brethren, study and practise the thirteenth
chapter of first Corinthians, and it will do you good wherever
you are.
248
MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
As to Other preparations, the more you know on all subjects,
provided you know it well, the better. There is hardly an item
of general knowledge of any kind that I ever acquired, which I
have not already found occasion to bring into use. On subjects
of general knowledge, it is important, if you come to this field, to
know pretty well the histories of England, France, and India. I
take for granted that you know the history of our own coun-
try thoroughly, and can tell why the American flag has thirteen
stripes, and twenty-six stars. Study Geology and Botany by all
means. These two sciences are of prime importance, and you
will almost daily find the benefit of an acquaintance with them.
I do not think a knowledge of medicine necessary to a missionary
to China. If you have an opportunity of learning something
about it, very well; but you will not, I think, find it advantageous
to unite an extensive medical practice with the preaching of the
Gospel. The two should go together, but it seems better that
they should be performed by different persons.
I think the climate of the ports of Ningpo and Shanghae will be
found most suitable for persons from the United States. Persons
disposed to bilious complaints and dyspeptics will suffer a good
deal in the Canton and Fuhkeen provinces. I think a confirmed
dyspeptic inight almost as well not come here. Persons liable to
consumption would find the Canton and Fuhkeen provinces de-
lightful residences, and I think that even those of bilious habits
would be nearly as safe in Ningpo and Chusan, as in the United
States. They have ice and snow there in winter. The Chinese
language is very difficult, and I am disposed to say, that one who
cannot make some tolerable progress in Latin, Greek, or Hebrew,
may as well not come here. The language is the difficulty in
China. I do not think it unattainable. I think its difficulties
have been exaggerated. I think that every year its acquisition will
be found easier, because more facilities in the way of elementary
books, and access to the people, are being afforded. In other re-
spects, I do not consider the field as " peculiarly arduous." On the
contrary, it is a peculiarly inviting one. I came here almost un-
willingly, for I wanted to go to Africa, but what I have seen has
made me glad I came ; and if I know my own heart, its desire is to
hve and die among this people. One thing is very certain, mis-
sionaries who come to this people will find them in general poor
and ignorant. Here, emphatically, " to the poor the gospel will be
preached." You must therefore make up your minds to become
teachers of babes when you come to this people. There are, I
admit, many exceptions, and you will often meet men of consider-
able learning and tact, but the mass of the people are as above
described. Your own experience has probably already taught you,
that it is more difficult for an educated man to come down and
instruct the ignorant, than it is to instruct those who already know
something. This suggestion, therefore, may assist you somewhat
in judging of the quahties a missionary needs, in instructing this
LETTERS. 249
people : they are patience, a facility in finding comparisons, a tal-
ent for simplifying-, an engaging address, (fee. (fee.
.... There are many items of intelligence I might communi-
cate to you ; but you will see in the pages of tlie Chronicle and
Foreign Missionary, much more than I can possibly write at this
time, and therefore I shall refer you to them. I do so the more
readily, because I have nothing of especial interest to communi-
cate to you, except what this letter contains, which will not appear
in one or other of those publications. My own progress in the
language has been but small. Nearly one-half of the time, since
my arrival in China, has been spent in voyages, and other engage-
ments connected with the mission ; so that altogether I have given
but eight or nine months' close attention to it. Still I am encour-
aged, and hope ere long to have a tolerably good acquaintance
with it.
Allow me, in conclusion, to make some remarks on your own
duty in reference to the heathen, and these I trust you will receive
not as coming from a superior, but from one himself recently a
theological student, and still remembering the feelings of such.
Your letter speaks with just severity of the inconsistency of those
who passed resolutions to do something special for the cause of
foreign missions, and yet made no special efforts to accomplish
their resolution. You speak too of the apathy of the churches
on this subject, and, as I think, partly lay the blame at the door
of the pastors of the churches. I am convinced from what I have
seen, and I saw a good deal before leaving the United States, that
the fault is with the ministry. " Like priest, like people," is an
ancient and true proverb. But I do not mean to blame the minis-
try in general, nor to pass an indiscriminate censure even on tliose
of them who have done little or nothing. My object rather is to
forget the things that are behind, and to press forward to those
that are before. Hence it has ever appeared exceedingly impor-
tant, that the students in our theological seminaries should have
the right spirit in the matter. Could I but see the right spirit
prevailing in our theological seminaries, I am almost certain that
in ten years our whole church would assume an entirely different
appearance, as it regards the cause of foreign and domestic mis-
sions. Why? Because in that time I suppose our seminaries
would have supplied five hundred pastors of churches at least, and
they would be settled in all parts of the country. Suppose now
that those five hundred pastors had the right spirit, and joined
their influence heartily with the ministers already earnestly en-
gaged, and what would be the effect? Their influence would be
felt in all our Presbyteries and Synods. When the Assembly
passed resolutions, there would be men enough to respond to them.
We should no more hear that more than half our churches gave
nothing at all to the cause of Christ. The whole appearance of
things would be entirely altered. Now, brethren, you form a part
of those five hundred ministers. The most of you, I suppose, will
250 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
become pastors in different parts of the country. What is your
spirit now in regard to the benevolent operations of the day 7
What do you intend to do when you are settled over your several
charges? Shall the theological students of 1853 make the same
complaints of you, that you make of your predecessors?
I have no doubt that many of you, I trust all of you, intend to
do something at least for foreign missions. Your own personal
duty as to becoming missionaries, is a subject I shall not now
touch upon. I wish to refer to the influence on behalf of foreign
missions, which you may exert on the people. Your intentions
are doubtless good, but what preparations are you now making?
What do you know of missions ? Do you think you will be able
to keep up the interest of your people in the Monthly Concert?
Do you think you will be able to teach them the true principles
of missions ; not romantic views, but sober, common-sense, Chris-
tian principles? Do you think you will be able to sustain the in-
terest of your people from year to year, and not merely to sustain
it, but to cause it to grow; to take deeper root; to become more
and more a matter of principle, and less and less one of luere im-
pulse? Do you think you will be able to do without the visits of
agents ? I trust you will pardon me if I say, I fear that some of
you cannot answer these questions in the affirmative. 1 do not
know any of you personally, and therefore you will not of course
consider my remarks as personal ; I only speak from ray knowl-
edge of theological students in general, and that has been pretty
extensive, and sufficiently accurate to justify me in making the
above remarks. It is no easy thing to JDring the church up to the
mark, and to keep her there, and you will find this very soon after
you are settled in the ministry. You will find that without a tol-
erably thorough and extensive acquaintance with the history and
principles of missions, you cannot do it.
Do you ask me, then, what you are to do? I say, first learn.
Now is your time, while you are in the seminary. Lay a deep
and broad foundation of missionary knowledge ; study the prophe-
cies of the Bible in reference to this point, and study them specially.
See what prophecies relate to Africa. What to the Jews. Whether
there are any for China. Learn the history of the progress of the
gospel in all ages and countries, but particularly within the last
fifty years. Study the history of particular missions ; I take it for
granted you will study the history of our own board and its mis-
sions, but I hope you will not confine yourself to them. God has
blessed other societies, both in America and England, abundantly;
and now, when the means of information are so accessible, why
should you not avail yourselves of them ? Study the Bible with
reference to this point. Why is it that some men at Monthly Con-
certs read only the seventy-second Psalm, and the sixtieth chapter
of Isaiah ? They really seem to think that there are no other parts
of the Bible that speak of missions. Having learned these things —
and you see from this hasty outline that there is not a little to be
LETTERS. 251
learned, and that you can best commence learning it while in the
seminary — the next thing will be to teach. This will be your duty
in the public services of the sanctuary, in the Monthly Concert, in
friendly visits among your people, and, above all, in the Sabi>ath-
school. liCt it be a special object with you to interest the young,
and you will certainly succeed. But I have written till my hand
is wearied, and perhaps have wearied your patience. Wiiat I
have written, however, though hastily penned, has not been has-
tily gathered. I trust it will not be hastily passed over by you,
I shall be most happy to hear from you as soon as you wish to
write, and shall prefer that you ask me questions, which I shall
answer as I can. I have some questions to ask you in return, to
which I shall be glad to receive answers. What is the order and
nature of your exercises in the Society of Inquiry and the Monthly
Concert? Do your students make it a point of conscience to in-
quire into their own personal duty to the heathen ? And is this
done in the early part of your theological course ? Do your stu-
dents generally read the missionary publications, particularly the
Chronicle and Herald? I don't mean, do you take them? fori
have known many students to take, who scarcely ever read them.
Is your Monthly Concert well attended ? Do you have any mis-
sionary exercises in your Sabbath-schools ? And if so, what and
how frequently? Have any of your students ever written one or
more missionary sermons before leaving the seminary ?
If you pubhsh a catalogue, I shall be glad to receive a copy.
And now, dear brethren, I must close. I make no apology for the
plainness of my remarks and questions, and trust you will receive
them in the same frank and Christian spirit with which they are
made. Pray for me. That the choicest blessings of God may
ever rest upon you, is the prayer of
Your brother in Christ,
W. M. LOWRIE.
P. S. You will readily see from the character of this letter, that
it is not designed for publication, and I wish, therefore, that you
will not allow it to appear in the newsoapers. W. M. L.
Macao, November 6th, 1843.
My Dear Father —
.... You make an incidental remark in your letter about
"one-sided impressions," produced by missionaries in their address-
es and letters. I think it a very important one. It is a thing
that has often occurred to me, since I came out, that missionaries,
without intending it, have at times produced an impression deci-
dedly erroneous, by their statements. For instance, there is noth-
ing in which it is easier to err, than in speaking of the eagerness of
the people to receive tracts. I remember not long ago, a China-
man saw me with a tract in my hand and begged me to give it to
252 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
him. I made him read a Httle, and finding lie could read, gave it
to him. He was apparently very gratelul, and asked me to come
to his hut. I could not speak a word of his dialect, but he found
I knew something of the characters, and the first thing he did
when 1 sat down was to ask me in writing to sell him some
opium ! I shall endeavor to avoid giving such impressions in my
communications. I see no occasion to make remarks merely for
effect, for the truth, simple and unadorned, respecting China, is
amply sufficient, if properly presented, to rouse the people and the
churches.
I was greatly delighted to hear of the large donation you have
received for China. 1 rejoice and take courage when 1 see God
raising up such friends, just at the time when they are most
needed. We have had many difficulties and discouragements in
this Mission, and may have many yet, but I feel almost assured
there is a great work for us to do, and that we shall by God's
blessing do it. I often think that I shall not be permitted to
labor much directly myself, and were I to be told now, that I
should hardly live to see our mission assume a settled aspect, it
would not surprise me. But these are thoughts which, though
they often occur, I do not allow to hinder me in preparations for
direct labor. My business is not to trouble myself about the
future, but to do with my might what my hands find to do, and
at present that is about as nmch as I can do. I do not know that I
have ever been happier than I am at present. I used to be much
subject to melancholy and lowness of spirits, but am not much so
now. I am often perplexed, but not in despair ; sometimes
troubled on every side, and yet not distressed. It seems to me,
that it would now cause me real anguish to be obliged to return
to the United States. Yet alas, how soon may the deceitfulness
of my own heart cause me to speak in quite a different strain. . .
Your affectionate son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Macao, December 15th, 1843.
My Dear Mother —
• • • It has become so cold within a day or two past that I have
to think of old times. . . . My teacher comes in with half a dozen
jackets on, and draws his hands into the long-lined sleeves of the
third of them, sitting as snug and cosy, as if he had a little fire-
place under his elbows. By the way, it is extremely common for
Chinese of any wealth to carry a small metal vessel, as large as a
man's fist, with live coals in it. It is used to warm their fingers
wnth, and when covered up in the long sleeve must diffuse a very
grateful warmth up the arm. Frost and snow are so seldom met
with here, that neither the Chinese nor the Portuguese ever build
fireplaces in their houses. If necessary they use a brazier with
charcoal, but commonly adopt the expedient of heaping on addi-
LETTERS. 253
tional clothes. Did 1 ever describe to you the winter dress of the
generality of the Chinese about here? You would laugh if you
saw them. I do not know what they have next to the skin, but
from the waist to the ankle the outside dress is a pair of very
closely fitting drawers, which show exactly the form of the whole
of the lower extremities. Then the upper part of the body is
covered with the loose jacket, of which they wear as many as the
weather requires, or tlieir means permit. Their appearance is
consequently next thing to ridiculous. The whole of the upper
part of the body looks like a barrel with a head on the top of it,
while the legs stick out beneath like a pair of compasses. What
adds to the effect of the whole, is, that the drawers are of various
colors, blue, green, yellow, black and white. Many a time I have
laughed at the comical appearance of a young dandy, who thought
he was making a grand display in his new clothes and well-turned
limbs. I should like to see one of them in Broadway, with his
thick-soled shoes and green tights, his wadded vests, and round
cap and long tail behind. Yet, after all, I am a great admirer of
the Chinese modes of dress. Their drawers, and the thick-soled
shoes, and the tails are the worst parts ; but the better classes do not
wear the drawers, or at least they wear another garment over
them It would amuse you to see how universal the use of
the fan is. I have seen a coolie or common laborer sweating
along the streets under a heavy burden, and fanning himself all
the time. It is funny to see sonre of the mechanics, and others a
grade or two above the coolies, fanning themselves in summer.
Their dress then consists of a pair of very loose trowsers fastened
round the waist by a string, and an upper garment reaching a
little lower than the top of the trowsers, and hanging loose over
them. You will see them every now and then putting their hands
behind them, and fanning up their backs, under this jacket.
My teacher is quite intelligent for a Chinese, though he knows
almost nothing of anything beyond China. He thinks it very
strange that we say North, East. South and West, for the Chinese
say East, West, South and North. It is also very strange to him
that we say North-East, South-East, &c., for the Chinese say
East-North, East-South, West-North, (fee. I was amused at a
talk we had yesterday about the Chinese queue, or tail, as we
commonly call it. He said that formerly it was not worn, but that
the present fashion of showing all the front of the head and leav-
ing it to grow long and braiding it behind, was introduced about
two hundred years ago, by the present Tartar dynasty. . .
I told him about the death and resurrection of Christ, at which
he seemed much surprised. He asked if Christ was not a man
like Confucius ? I told him no, but the Son of God. As his
curiosity seemed to be somewhat excited, I told him I had a
biography of Christ which I would lend him, if he wished to read
it. He said he would, so I gave him a New Testament, which he
254 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
took away with him. Oh that the Spirit of God may make it a
blessing to him. . .
With love to all the family, I remain,
Yours affectionately,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Macao, November 20th, 1843.
To THE Society of Inquiry of Princeton Theological
Seminary.
Dear Brethren : — It is now rather more than two years
since I finally left, your institution. I did not intend that so long
a time should elapse without writing to you, for both my own in-
clinations, and a kind request from your corresponding secretary,
have made me wish to hold a correspondence with you. Circum-
stances, however, over which I have had little control, have in-
duced me to defer writing till the present period. You may be
sure it has not been for want of interest in your institution that I
have so long delayed. On the contrary, the thoughts of hallowed
seasons in the old oratory where you meet, have been among the
most pleasant of the many pleasant recollections I have brought
from the land of my birth.
I do not mean to write a ' sentimental' letter, for my own expe-
rience in the Seminary taught me that such letters are about as
dry and unprofitable as any you receive ; yet neither do I mean
to write a letter containing statistics and stirring facts. The
most, if not the whole, of what I could at present write in that
way, has been recently embodied in a journal which I presume
will be published in the Chronicle, and if you will consider the in-
formation there contained to be intended for yourselves just as
much as if I had written it to you, it will save me the lalior and
the time necessary to write it over again, neither of which I can
very well spare at present. A word or two, however, about my
own impressions of the Chinese language. You have doubtless
heard marvellous accounts of its difficulty, and the time necessary
to gain even a ' smattering' in it — ten, fifteen, twenty, and even
twenty-five years have I heard assigned as the time in which a
person may hope to gain some little acquaintance with it. Now
all this is certainly incorrect. There is no doubt it is a very hard
language. If any of you come here, you will need a great deal
more resolution and spirit than you found needed for Hebrew. It
is, I suppose, the hardest language in the world, and perhaps no
foreigner will ever acquire it perfectly ; certainly no foreigner ever
has acquired it perfectly. But I have seen several men who have
been here much less than ten years who do speak it with great
fluency, and are quite intelligible, not merely to the teacher who
has become accustomed to their pronunciation and modes of thought,
but to the people in general, and that too in the most difficult of
LETTERS. 255
all the dialects. Nor are those who have made such acquirements
men of the most splendid talents, and wonderful facilities in learn-
ing- languages. They are little, if anytliing, superior to the most
of those who become missionaries. It is also a most important
consideration that the facilities for learning the language are now
vastly greater than they have ever before been, so that at the
northern ports especially, a person may hope to learn the language
in two-thirds of the time that was formerly requisite. By facilities
I mean, books, teachers, and especially opportunities of access to
the people. 1 do not wish to give you tlie impression that it is a
light work to learn it. If any of you come here with that impres-
sion you will be sadly disappointed. But if you come, and sit
down manfully to the task, determined from the outset to be satis-
fied with nothing less than an accurate acquaintance with the
tones, and with the sounds, and with the idioms, you will find
yourselves in two years' time proceeding with profit and pleasure.
By that time you will have gained much acquaintance with the
character of the people ; you will be astonisiied at the vastness of
the field open before you, and you will thank God that he has sent
you to labor for this great and ancient race.
If you come here as missionaries, you must expect many trials.
They will come upon you in unthought-of ways, and where you
looked for most joy, you may perhaps find most sorrow. I am led
to make this remark for two reasons. It is a fact that Chinese
missionaries have been remarkably tried, some by sickness, some
by loss of relatives, some by personal inconveniences and disap-
pointments. There are some twenty or more missionaries to
China, not including females ; of these twenty, there are scarcely
three who have not met some sore trial within the last fifteen
months. I do not know whether missionaries to other countries
have been so generally afflicted ; but very many of them have,
and you may be called to experience the same. There is also
another reason that induces me think that missionaries to China
nuist expect trials. We have a very great Avovk to perform. If
China contain, as it probably does, one-third of the population of
the globe, and if this people is to be converted to God, then no
words of mine are needed, as no human words are able to express
the greatness of the work before us. But when was it ever known
that any great work was accomplished without labor and toil, self-
denial, sacrifice, and oftentimes the acutest mental anguisli? Has
not every great work that ever has been performed for God in the
world been watered by the sweat, and the tears, and the blood of
his servants ? And can we expect that the conversion of the most
populous nation of the globe shall be accomplished witli ordinary
efforts and ordinary sorrows ? General experience is against it.
The experience of missionaries to China is against it. And the
example of God our Son, who, to accomplish the world's redemp-
tion, became " sorrowful even unto death," should teach us, who
are to be " partakers of his sufferings," not to expect it. We need
256 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
to be humbled in the dust before we can be trusted vvitn success,
where success is to be so glorious. We need to be purified in the
furnace before we can labor with acceptance, where our acceptable
labors are to redound so much to the glory of God ; yet do not think
that these trials will make you unhappy. For a time they will
be hard to bear ; but " He giveth more grace." And great as have
been the trials of the missionaries here, I have seldom associated
with persons who seemed so truly happy as do most of my fellow-
laborers in China. These trials are necessary for us here, and it
was well remarked to jne by one who was herself called to bear
the yoke, " Trials are one of our most precious means of grace."
We missionaries, as a matter of course, feel much interest in
the accounts of matters and things in general that reach us in
the papers from home. It is true, that when twenty papers
come at once, as they often do, it is not possible to give each one
a full and careful perusal ; yet somehow or other we manage to
see a good deal of what is in them, and as you may suppose, our
minds are variously affected by what we read. Will you allow
me to give you some thoughts that have occurred to me occasion-
ally, on reading some of the newspaper articles I have seen?
They have appeared in respectable papers, but I attach import-
ance to them, principally, because they appear to be indices of the
state of feeling in the religious cominimity on those subjects. I
observe by several of the papers that there has been a good deal
of discussion on the question whether missionaries to the heathen
sliould be married. This is certainly a most important subject ;
and as very erroneous views are very extensively held in regard
to it, I am not sorry to see it discussed. The only thing is, let it
be discussed on right principles, and when the truth is discovered
let it be reduced to practice. If I may judge from what I have
seen in the papers, the impression is gaining ground, that mission-
aries should be unmarried men : and some of the principal reasons
adduced for this opinion are, that it will cost much less to sustain
them ; they will be much more free to move about and embrace
favorable opportunities of doing good ; they will be less likely to
go home ; and after all, the wives of missionaries do not do so
very much, in the way of direct labor, and would not be very
much missed. Those who are in favor of the marriage of mis-
sionaries insist very much on the direct usefulness of the wives of
missionaries, and there are many who seem to think this is the
chief reason for sending them. Now, with all due deference to
the advocates of both sides, it strikes me that these arguments
place the subject on the wrong ground, and present it in a false
light.
Missionaries are men of like passions with others, and in the
present day, when miraculous influences have ceased, I know not
why they should be judged of in a different way from other men ;
or why the broad principles of the Bible are not as applicable to
them as to other men. Now one of the first principles of the
LETTERS. .257
Bible on this subject is, " It is not good that the man shouid be
alone." This principle, I conceive, was recognized by our Sav-
iour when the disciples said, " It is not good to marry." He who
knew what was in man, said, "Ail men cannot receive this say-
ing— he that is able to receive it, let him receive it." This is the
rule by which this question must be decided. It is not good for
the great majority of men to be alone ; first, because, if alone they
are exposed to temptations, which sad experience proves that most
men cannot withstand ; secondly, because, though they may by
grace withstand the temptations to actual sin, yet they are not
contented ; and they want those solaces of affection which the
human heart craves, and those counsels of intimate friendship
that are so grateful to him that is separated from the influences
of Christian society. If, then, you can live sinlessly in the unmar-
ried state ; if you can be contetited ; if you can be satisfied with-
out the kindly influences of female society ; then I say, it is prob-
ably your duty to be an unmarried missionary, but not otherwise.
The expense is not the question ; and as long as tlie Church is
so abundantly able to bear it as she now is, it is a shame to men-
tion sucii a consideration, or to ask, why does not the missionary
live as the whalers and fur hunters do?
There is force in the consideration, that an unmarried mission-
ary is more free to move about, and at times to occupy stations
where married men cannot e^tsily go, and the consideration should
have its own weight with tljose who think of this subject. But
there is equal force in the consideration, that permanent good, and
visible effects have most commonly followed where the married
missionary has settled, and by his settlement concentrated his
efforts. The direct usefulness of the missionary's wife, is by no
means the main point in deciding this question. Her first duty
in all cases is to attend to her husband and children ; and if she
have time and strength for more^than this, then that is all clear
gain. Let her preserve her husband from those temptations to
which unmarried men are exposed ; let her soothe him in his
hours of despjndency ; let her relieve him from the household
cares that must interrupt him if unmarried ; let her soften the
disposition that without her influence would become rough and
rude ; (for as Bacon says, " Certainly wife and children are a
kind of discipline of humanity ;") let her show by her silent ex-
ample what a Christian wife and mother is, and how she should
be treated ; and if she never learns a syllable of the native lan-
guage, or teaches a single heathen child a letter, she has accom-
plished a work worth ten times more than the expense of her
outfit and support. These observations may excite a smile, but
they are not written in levity. They may appear strange, and
half-romantic, but only to those who have romantic views of mis-
sions. Much thought and the acquaintance of several mission-
aries, convince me that they are the words of truth and soberness.
As to the question whether it is the wife who causes the return of
17
258 MEMOIR OP WALTER M. LOWRIE.
the missionary, although the general opinion seems to be that it
is, yet I have my doubts. Certainly the experience of the Pres-
byterian board does not say so ; for of all their missionaries who
have returned on account of ill health, Mr. Rogers of North
India, is the only one who has yet been taken back by his wife's
ill health ; in every other case it is the husband's ill health that
has taken the wife back. The experience of the American board
seems to be different ; but I should be glad to see a fuller array
of facts, than the celebrated paper of Dr. Anderson presents. It
does not strike me that the whole of the facts, in regard to the
return of all who do return, is there presented. If I remember
rightly, that paper speaks of the return of so many married mis-
sionaries, but does not say anything about the return of unmar-
ried missionaries. But even admitting that it has been the case
in the experience of that board, that the wife has taken the hus-
band home, where does the fault lie ?
It is to this point I would direct your special attention ; for most
of you will become pastors at home, and the impression is very
strong upon my mind, that it has been the fault of the pastors at
home that so many unqualified missionary's wives have gone
abroad, and finding, after they got abroad, that they were unqual-
ified, have been obliged to return. I know something of the way
in which this happens. A young woman, for some reason or
other, becomes desirous of going as a missionary, and very natu-
rally consults with her pastor. He is glad to find a member of
his church so disposed, for he hopes she will do good abroad, and
will excite an interest among his own people ; and possibly the
thought occurs to him, especially if two or three of his flock should
become missionaries or missionaries' wives, " AVhat a number of
my people are becoming missionaries !" Now it is just as possible
as not, that this pastor's views of the qualifications of a mission-
ary's wife are not very high ; ai^d it is quite probable, (I know it
to be a fact in some cases,) that he does not carefully inquire
whether her talents, acquirements, and bodily health, fit her for
the work ; but at once he encourages her to proceed. He regards
her as a candidate, and recommends her to some young man,
who is reckless enough, (I say reckless, for that is the word.) to
risk his happiness and usefulness for life on a three days' acquaint-
ance. They are married, go abroad, and come back again. I
know a case in which a young woman, who could scarcely write
her own name, and had only the commonest rudiments of an
English education, was recommended by an Old-School Presby-
terian pastor for an assistant missionary ; and that pastor was
almost offended with a discreet missionary's wife, who told him
he ought not to encourage such a person to become a missionary.
In all cases of this kind, certainly the pastors are to be blamed,
and I trust that none of you will ever encotn^age such procedures.
Do not think that I wish to shield missionaries from blame, when
they deserve it, or that I do not think they often do deserve it.
LETTERS. 259
I am too deeply conscious of my own defects, and too often pained
by what I see, not to admit that in many things we offend, and
in all we come short ; but still, let justice be done to all, and espe-
cially let those with whom, after all, rests the responsibihty of
carrying on the cause of foreign missions — I mean the pastors of
the church at home— see to it that they perform their part of the
matter aright.
The previous remarks have become so much longer than I ex-
pected, that I must hasten over the other items which I wished to
notice. I have been exceedingly pained by some articles I have
seen lately in the papers, in reference to the claims of the domes-
tic and foreign fields. The spirit of the articles referred to has not
been of the right kind. I have no doubt their authors meant
well; but it appears to me to be an exceedingly erroneous course,
to attempt to set the claims of foreign and domestic missions in
array and in opposition against each other, or to say that too
much attention has been given to the one, to the neglect of the
other. The attempts I have seen in some of the papers to show
that literally more has been done for foreign than for domestic
missions, I pass by, as unworthy of an answer : you can count
every cent that is expended for tiie foreign field, but you have not
the statistics for one-half the expenses of the domestic field ; and
yet it is easily shown that even the half of those expenses is much
greater than all that is expended abroad. These men talk of the
vastness of the domestic field, of the favorable openings, of the
need of laborers ; and they tell us that these men are our brethren,
and have special claims upon us. I admit it all, and if I could
add anything to the force of what they say, 1 would beseech you,
by the mercies of Christ, and by your love for the souls of your
brethren, to do with your might what your hands find to do for
them. But why should this be done by disparaging the claims
of the foreign field ? O brethren, if I could show you what I have
lately seen, — the numerous openings where the gospel may be
preached, the unnumbered thousands who are accessible with far
more ease than the scattered inhabitants of the West, the fewness
and feebleness of the laborers sent by the Church, — and if we
could all feel that these, too, are our brethren, seeing God hath
made us all of one blood to dwell on all the face of the earth, you
would give little heed to such unworthy comparisons. If the
church were now doing all in her power ; if every nerve were
strained as much as the gospel requires, then there might be oc-
casion to pause, and ask, are we not doing too much here, or too
much there.' But as long as more than half the Church is doing
nothing, absolutely nothing, let there be no more complaints that
too much is done for the heathen. I object to the papers referred
to, because they give countenance to the idea, that the interests
of the foreign and domestic fields are not the same. If there is
any man who renounces such an idea, it is the missionary to the
heathen. Our hearts rejoice within us when we hear of the ex-
260 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
tension of the cause of Christ at home, and that the gospel is
preached to the poor and the destitute. Why? Not only because
of the amount of actual good accomplished, but because we know
that thus new funds, and new men, are raised up for the foreign
field, and additional prayers ascend on our behalf. Every con-
quest at home increases our strength abroad. But if we are told
that these conquests are to be gained henceforth by diminishing
the efforts abroad, and disparaging the importance of the work in
which we are engaged, then we have small reason to rejoice.
But I will not believe that such one-sided views shall ever gain
general currency among those who see and know, that one of the
surest ways to promote vital piety at home, is to make it active
and expansive ; so that, while it rejoices to do good to those around,
it embraces the world in the wide arms of charity.
The remark is often made that missionaries, by giving so much
of their attention to a particular subject, become men of merely
one idea, and do not in their appeals and communications advert
sutftciently to the wants of other fields, I have no disposition to
deny the charge, for in this world it is but seldom that much is
done, except by such men of one idea. The man whose mind is
filled with an hundred ideas is likely to do much less for any of
them than the man of one idea does for all. But it is a question
worthy of consideration, whether the man who looks solely at the
httle corner where himself is located is not more truly liable to
the charge of being a man of one idea, and that sometimes a
very contracted one. The missionary has seen the destitutions
of his own country, and he has also seen the destitutions of the
heathen. Why is he not at least as well qualified to judge of the
comparative claims of each, as the man who has never been
beyond the bounds of his own state, or it may be, the limits of
his own neighborhood?
1 observe that one of the "standing requests" you propose to
your foreign correspondents is, " Can you send us any curiosi-
ties ?" To this I answer. " Yes, plenty ; if I had the money to
buy them with." Such things are not easily to be procured with-
out paying for them ; and as a missionary's salary does not com-
monly give him a great deal of spending money besides his
necessary expenses, he cannot easily send many curiosities to all
who would like to have them. I will, however, keep my eyes
open, and endeavor to make some addition to your cabinet.
Allow me to suggest whether it would not be better for you to
make an annual appropriation of ten, twenty, or thirty dollars,
and request some of the missionaries to procure articles for your
cabinet? I will most cheerfully undertake any such commission
for you, and will procure either such articles as you may specify,
or myself select such as may be interesting, and I am sure that
Wilson, and Scott, and Owen, and Janvier, in India, and Sawyer
in Africa, and Dougherty and Louo^hridge, will do the same with
equal cheerfulness in their respective fields. There will be no
LETTERS. 261
difficulty in remitting the money, for all that is necessary is to
pay it at the Mission Rooms at New York, stating that it is "' for
curiosities, &c., for the Seminary at Princeton." Have you a set
of the Chinese Repository ? I know you have one or two of the
volumes ; but it is very desirable that you have the whole set.
for there is no work, ancient or modern, that gives so much in-
formation concerning China. If you vviU give me instructions to
that effect, and tell me what volumes you have, I can easily pro-
cure you the others. There are now twelve volumes ; the first
and second are six dollars each, and the other ten three dollars
eacli, being forty-two dollars for the set. It is continued yearly
at three dollars a year.
Do you still make it a rule to send one of the Seminary Cata-
logues to each of j^our members who goes to tlie foreign field ?
It will give me much pleasure to receive one yearly ; and as all
my acquaintances in the seminary will soon be gone from among
you, I shall not know whom to look to, except the Society of
Inquiry.
I must now bring this lengthy epistle to a close. That every
blessing from above may rest upon you, may direct your future
course, and crown your labors with success, is the prayer of your
friend and brother in the gospel,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Macao, December 30th, 1843.
My Dear Father —
.... The principal occurrence of interest during the month
has been some rather public discussions of the visit paid by Mr.
Abeel and myself to Chang-Chowfoo. After my return, Mr.
Bridgeman and others importuned me to write an account of it
for the Chinese Repository. I declined at first, from a dislike to
make myself so prominent as such an account woidd necessarily
make me. Being still urged I consented, and Mr. Bridgeman
and myself looked over it carefully to see that there were no
incorrect statements ; and, not to offend our English friends,
omitted all reference to the manner in which the officers at
Chang-Chow spoke of Americans. The article was read with
interest, and among others an English officer of some influence
in Hong Kong spoke of it quite favorably. Judge, then, of my
surprise, when a few days afterwards Sir Henry Pottinger pub-
lished a proclamation expressly referring to it. pointedly condemn-
ing our conduct, and informing the Chinese authorities of the
Provinces of Canton and Fuhkeen, that the " party, «fec., were
Americans !" This excited no little talk, and 1 heard many per-
sons condemn Sir Henry's course as impertinent and uncalled
for, though I found that the insinuations of the proclamation
were leaving unfavorable impressions as to my conduct. I ac-
cordingly prepared a reply, and sent it to the "Friend of China."
262 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
A cautious friend in Hong Kong, without my leave, withdrew
the article. When he gave me his reasons, I did not deem them
sufficient. I could not see how a plain and manly defence of
one's course against uncalled for and injurious charges was im-
proper. I considered too that our American citizenship and free-
dom from tlie surveillance of English authorities, were important
circumstances in our favor in carrying on the work of missions
here, and were to be defended and maintained. Accordingly I
wrote another article, which appeared this week in the Friend of
China.
In consequence of Sir Henry's letter to the governor of Canton,
the latter addressed a letter to the American consul, informing him
of the affair, and urging him to enforce on his countrymen the
necessity of obedience to the treaty. Mr. Forbes wrote back that
his countrymen would always obey the laws when made known ;
but that when we went to Chang-Chow, the supplementary treaty
w^as not i\nown to us. He also wrote me a very gentlemanly let-
ter, more, I suppose, as a matter of form than anything else, in-
forming me of the communication of the governor of Canton.
The notoriety attending this affair has been not a little unpleas-
ant and annoying to me, but I do not feel that I have done any-
thing to be ashamed of I suppose it is to be considered as one
of the necessary trials of this state of warfare, and a wholesome
discipline to prepare me for future trials. Pray for me that 1 may
have wisdom and prudence to guide me in all my ways
Your affectionate son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
The annexed copy of an official communication, addressed on
the 18th instant by Her Britannic Majesty's Plenipotentiary, &.c.,
in China, to their Excellencies the Viceroy and Lieut. Governor
at Canton, is published for the information and warning of Her
Majesty's subjects, as well as of the subjects or citizens of all
other states, who may be at this time residing at any place occu-
pied by Her Majesty's forces in China.
In directing the publication of this letter, Her Britannic Majes-
ty's Plenipotentiary cannot refrain from expressing both his disap-
probation of, and great surprise at the conduct of the persons con-
cerned in this matter, who appear not only to have gone to the
very unjustifiable length of bearding the local authorities, but to
have attempted to explain the stipulations of some parts of the
treaty, in a way that could not fail to excite the alarm and appre-
hension of the government of China, as well as the indignation
of all right thinking persons, at so gross an evasion of a solemn
engagement between two great empires.
LETTERS. 263
By Older of his Excellency, Her Britannic Majesty's Plenipoten-
tiary, &c., &c., in China.
Richard Woosnam.
Government House, Victoria^
Hong Kong, 27th November, 1843.
Government House, Victoria,
{Hong Kong,) November 18th, 1843.
I trouble your Excellencies with this letter, in consequence of
my attention having been called to a "Narrative of a recent Visit
to the Chief City of the Department of Chang-Chow, in the Prov-
ince of Fokeen," which has just been published at Macao, and
from which it would appear that certain foreigners had, during
last month, visited the said city of Chang-Chow, and forced their
way into the country, in opposition to the wishes and orders of the
local authorities, who pointed out to the foreigners that their doing
so was contrary to the treaty, &.C., &.c.
From this remark of the local authorities, I can only infer — es-
pecially as the provisions of the supplementary treaty were not at
that time made public — that the mandarins believed the persons
who thus acted to be Englishmen, and I should therefore esteem
it a favor, your Excellencies' officially informing the Viceroy and
Lieutenant Governor of Fokeen, that the party of foreigners who
visited Chang Chow Foo and forced their way into the country,
were Americans and not British subjects.
I reiterate to your Excellencies my constant and earnest desire
to restrain all British subjects from thus, or in any other respect,
committing the smallest infraction of the terms of the treaty ; and,
should any of them hereafter attempt to do so— no matter what
the pretence may be — in defiance of the rules that have been laid
down, and the proclamations that have been issued, I trust the
local mandarins will seize and confine them, and will send them
to the nearest English Consular Officer, to be dealt with as may
be found necessary and proper to enforce implicit obedience.
In addition to making this official communication to your Ex-
cellencies, I shall publish this letter, and instruct all British Con-
sular and other officers, to warn all persons residing under their
authority against any infraction, however trifling, of the rules and
regulations that have been laid down.
I avail myself of this opportunity to convey to your Excellen-
cies my best wishes for your health and happiness.
(Signed,) Henry Pottinger.
True Copy,
Richard Woosnam,
Their Excellencies
Kekung, Viceroy, (fcc, (fcc, ifcc,
Chingkeahtsai, Lieutenant Governor, (fee, Canton.
264 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Macao, December 23d, 1843.
To THE Editor of the Friend of China —
Dear Sir : — A government notification dated November 27th,
appeared in your paper some time since, on which I beg leave to
offer a few remarks ; circumstances beyond my control have pre-
v'ented me from doing so at an earher date.
The first thing remarkable in the notification is, that it refers
to persons over whom Sir Henry Pottinger has no control, and for
whose conduct he is not responsible. His Excellency was aware
of this, yet he assumes the power to express Officially "both
his disapprobation of, and great surprise at, the conduct of" Amer-
icans. The notification is still more remarkable, because, so far
as appears, no complaint was made to Sir Henry by the Chinese
authorities. It is not commonly thought to be the duty of H. B.
M. Plenipotentiary in China, to report the conduct of even his own
countrymen to the Chinese government. How much less does it
become him to act the part of informer against the citizens of
other countries. On these two points, however, as well as in re-
gard to the hard words of the notification, but little need be said.
The opinion of " all right thinking persons" is already formed
concerning them, and from that opinion I shall not appeal.
The letter of Sir Henry Pottinger to the Governor and Lieuten-
ant-Governor of the Province of Canton, is calculated to convey
the impression, that the persons of whose conduct he complains,
went by force and violence to Chang-Chow. He says more than
once " they forced their way into the country," and also that they
" bearded the local authorities." It is sufficient to say that force
was neither used nor intended, nor was a sign of opposition shown
until after we had hired lodgings in Chang-Chow ; and if quietly
reasoning with Chinese officers be "unjustifiably bearding them,"
we may possibly be guilty of the same ofTence again. As to our
misinterpreting the treaty and "grossly evading solemn engage-
ments," His Excellency claims more for the treaty of Nankin, than
its published extracts contain. What article of that treaty prohib-
its even Englishmen from visiting other places besides the five
ports? And why was article sixth inserted in the Supplementary
Treaty if the previous treaty spoke definitely on that point? His
Excellency informs the Chinese authorities that " the party of
foreigners who visited Chang-Chowfoo, were Americans." Does he
mean to inform them that none but Americans have gone there?
If not, the definitive article is singularly out of place. If he does,
it will not be liard to prove that several parties of Englishmen
have visited the same city. His Excellency also says, " I can
only infer that the Mandarins believed the persons who thus acted
to be Englishmen." The natural " inference" from this sentence
is, that we passed ourselves off for Englishmen — else why should
the Chinese believe we were such? Does Sir Henry mean to as-
sert this? If he does, I beg leave to assure him of the contrary.
LETTERS.
265
The Mandarins did not believe we were Englishmen, because we
told them from the first,nhat we were Americans ; and this might
have been " inferred" from the " narrative," just as readily as the
reverse. They asked us " who we were," and the charity that
thinketh no evil, would have inferred that we told them tlie truth.
Your obedient servant,
W. M. LOWRIE.
CHAPTER VI.
1844.
RESIDENCE IN MACAO — LETTERS — CHINESE PRINTING WITH METAL TYPE —
ARRIVAL OF NEW MISSIONARIES — THEIR FIELDS OF LABOR.
During the year 1844, the missionary force in China was much
enlarged. In February, D. B. McCartee. M.D., and Mr. R. Cole,
printer, and his wife, reached China. The Rev. R. Q,. Way and
his wife arrived in July, and the Rev. Messrs. J. Lloyd, A. P.
Happer, M.D., A. W. Loomis, and M. S. Culbertson, with Mrs.
Looniis and Mrs. Culbertson, in October.
The location of these brethren at the different missions, was a
subject of much importance, and of some delicacy. In relation to
it, the officers of the board had conversed freely with the new mis-
sionaries, after which, with some general suggestions from the
Executive Committee, the matter was left to their own decision.
Though younger than some of his colleagues, yet as the mission-
ary longest in China, much of the responsibility rested on Mr.
Lowrie ; and until their respective missions were fixed, it was to
him a time of much anxiety and care. After a season of prayer
for Divine direction, with much harmony they arranged their
places at the different missions. At Canton were settled Mr. Hap-
per, and for the present, Mr. Cole, with the press ; at Amoy, Mr.
Lloyd and Dr. Hepburn, who were to be joined by the Rev. H. A.
Brown, when he should arrive ; at Ningpo, Mr. Lowrie, Mr. Way,
Mr. Culbertson, Mr. Loomis, and Dr. McCartee. This arrange-
ment involved the separation of two friends, Messrs. Lloyd and
Lowrie, and most deeply was it felt by both. Both were con-
vinced, however, that the interests of the Master's cause required
this trial, keen as it was, and after a short interview of two
weeks, they parted to meet no more on earth.
The printing press and the Chinese matrixes were received la
February, when Mr. Cole arrived. The theory of printing the
Chinese language with metal type — a large portion of them being
LETTERS. 267
divisible characters — was to be reduced to practice, and tested by
actual experiment. The type were to be cast, and four thousand
different characters were to be arranged in cases for the composi-
tor. To be convenient, the characters most frequently used re-
quired to be placed together, whilst regard was to be had to the
principles of the language, as arranged under their different radi-
cals or iceys. Mr. Cole was experienced in English printing, but
he had no knowledge of Chinese, and the entire arrangement of
the Chinese characters devolved on Mr. Lowrie. Everything was
new. Some of the characters occur very rarely, others occur re-
peatedly on every page ; hence some approximation to the relative
number of each had to be made, before the type could be cast, and
the difficulty of this work was increased by a large part of them
being divisible. After months of labor, these difficult matters
were accomplished, and the press went into successful operation
in June.
Besides attention to the press, much of his time was required
on behalf of the other missionaries. He was their general treas-
urer. He was in a measure at home ; they were in a strange
place ; their business affairs necessarily fell to his share, and his
services were of much benefit to them. His correspondence with
the Mission House was also very full. Much to his regret, these
various items greatly interfered with his Chinese studies.
During this year, Mr. Lowrie prepared a series of articles on the
history of the missionary work in China, with a brief account of
the Jews and Christians in China, which were published in the
Chinese Repository. They were afterwards reprinted in the Uni-
ted States, under the title of the Land of Sinim, or an exposition of
Isaiah xlix. 12.
Dr. McCartee left Macao for Ningpo in June, and Mr. Way and
his wife in August. Mr. Lloyd left for Amoy in November.
Owing to the north-east monsoon, the other missionaries for
Ningpo did not set out till the February following.
Macao ^ January 1st, 1844.
My Dear Mother —
I wish you a very happy new year, and many returns of the
same ! How rapidly the last year has flown away ! . . . . After
breakfast I sat down to my Chinese with my teacher, and read a
little, and got him to explain a few phrases to me. He asked me
what so many of my friends came here for yesterday, and I told
him it was for public worship ; that we read our sacred books, and
268
MEMOIR OP WALTER M. LOWRIE.
sung and prayed, and that I explained what was read. He said
this was very proper ; that formerly there had been ihe same cus-
tom in China, but not now ; he did not know why it was not
used now.
.... After making a number of calls through the day, Mr. W.
and I started out, and walked beyond the Barrier. It was after
dark before we got back. He told me that some of the people did
not like my sermon yesterday, and that one who had not heard it
was a good deal displeased. I expected this. It was about Sab-
bath-breaking, and I took occasion to bear as decided a testimony
as I could against the general desecration of the Sabbath here, by
all classes : for example, the Supplementary Treaty was signed
on Sabbath, with all its parade and confusion. The mails for
England were closed yesterday week at Hong Kong, thus requir-
ing the foreigners there to spend that day in their counting-houses.
I referred to these facts. The highest officer commonly takes the
Sabbath to go between Hong Kong and Macao. One left this
place yesterday in the steamer for Hong Kong. Many of the
merchants regularly spend the Sabbath in their counting-houses.
More ships are despatched on the Sabbath than on any other day
of the week. This I know. The Sabbath is the day for visiting
here, as in all other parts of the East Indies. Oh, it is most mel-
ancholy to see how the day is profaned, and that, too, by men
who at home would not dare to do so. Most men seem to leave
their consciences and the fear of God behind them when they
come to China. The heathen see them, and have dealings with
them, and they think we are all alike. Judge, then, what effect
our preaching and exhortations have upon them.
Ten o'clock, p. m. You are just conunencing the day. So it is :
those who love each other are widely separated, but such separa-
tions will not last forever, and if time always rolls as fast as the
last year has done, they will very soon be no more. Oh that we
may all meet at last where we shall go no more out
Yours affectionately,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Macao, January 18th, 1844.
My Dear Mother —
This day finishes two years since I left the United States. I
know not how the time has seemed to you, but to me it appears
under a very singular aspect. It has gone so rapidly that I can
scarce conceive so much has really elapsed ; and yet it has led me
through so many strange scenes, that I can scarcely crowd them
all into it. I like to look back occasionally, for the immediate
effects of all I have seen have passed away, and they come up
before me quietly and calmly to be thought about. I try to look
forward, but in vain, for I know not what a day may bring forth.
I am just as uncertain as I was two years ago, where my lot shall
LETTERS. 269
yet be cast, or whether I shall ever find a " place of rest." It is
not an easy thing to learn to live by the day, or in " patience to
possess one's soul." I want to be moving, to be doing something,
to see results ; but my mouth is closed, and at present my feet
are bound. Sometimes it is, " Oh that I had wings like a dove,
for then would I fly away ;" but then again the word comes, "The
husbandman hath long patience." This is a trial of missionary
life that did not at first enter much into my thoughts, its compar-
ative inaction. I am busy as 1 can well be, yet my life is as quiet
as it was in the Seminary, and I see even less of company. It is
nearly three weeks since I have spoken to a lady, and it is three
months since I have spent a day in a house with one. So we
pass away. We are strangers here, at one time walking in the
crowded streets, and at another threading the wilderness path
alone, but ever pressing on to the end of our course. Shall it be
long or short ? painful or pleasant ? But these are not the ques-
tions for us to ask. It is ours to take no thought for the morrow.
January 19. As clear and bright a day as it was two years ago,
but a good deal warmer. After reading a page or so in the San
Ko Che, or History of the Three States, I started off about eleven
o'clock, with my teacher, to visit the temple of Wakok. (I wrote
a description of it some time ago for the Foreign Missionary.) I
had been there often, but wanted my teacher to explain some
things which I did not understand. As you may suppose, I talk
with him in very broken language, and can understand only a
part of what he saj's, but we make out to talk a good deal to-
gether. I think I can see his respect for the superstitions of his
own country perceptibly decreasing, though I fear that it is only
to make way for an inditference to religion that is even worse.
A couple of well-dressed and respectable-looking men were bow-
ing and kneeling, lighting incense-sticks, and burning paper be-
fore the images. He said tliey were praying for wealth ; but he
acknowledged that the images could not hear them. They went
to several of the images, and as they went to each one, an at-
tendant struck the bell and the drum several times. I asked him
what that was for ? • He said, to " rouse the attention of the idol,
and make her hear !" I asked him what sort of gods these were,
when it was necessary to awaken them to make them listen to
their worshippers ? He said, with a good deal of earnestness, " I
don't worship these ; I worship only the spirit that is represented
by them." However, he acknowledged that most of the people
worshipped the idol. He then asked me, if we used no images of
Jesus Christ? I said no; that the Roman Catholics used a
crucifix, but tliat I thought this wrong, and that it was folly to
worship any image. " It had eyes, but could not see ; ears, but
could not hear ; nose, but could not smell ; feet, but could not
walk." It is just so here. O that he were a Christian! He is a
very amiable man, a man of some learning, and simple-minded,
and might do great good if converted. I like him far better than
270 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
any teacher I have yet had, and he seems very well satisfied to
stay with rne : though he does get tired sometimes, when I ply
him with questions, and keep him sitting by me for thiee or four
hours together. I told him the other day, that in the United
States we elected our own Hwang Sluing and Tsung Tuk,
"Emperor and Viceroys." (The Chinese have no word corres-
ponding to President and Governors.) I think I never saw a man
so astonished. He held up both hands, and stared at me, and at
last exclaimed, " Hi yah ! Astonishing ! I never heard of such a
thing !" He said at first it was a very bad plan, for the people
would be always fighting. But after I had shown him that in
this way we secured the election of just officers, and men who
would not oppress us, while their officers, according to his own
acknowledgment, were extremely venal and extortionate, he said,
"Well, perhaps it may be good for you, but I'm sure it wouldn't
be possible to do so here;" which is very true. It is wonderful
how ignorant the Chinese learned men are. I believe he looks
on me as a sort of Baron Monchausen, though I have told him
very little that is not known to every school-boy in the United
States
Hoping to hear from you soon, I remain, as ever,
Yours aflfectionately, W. M. Lowrie.
Macao, February 1st, 1844.
My Dear Father: —
I have the pleasure of sending herewith something that I think
will amuse you. It is a letter to yourself, in Chinese, from my
Chinese teacher. In my conversation with him, I have at differ-
ent times told him particulars about our family, and of course
have not failed to speak of you. I told him you knew something
of Chinese, at which he was greatly astonished and gratified, and
one day I proposed to him that he should write you a letter. The
idea pleased him wonderfully, and in a day or two he brought me
the inclosed. It is entirely of his own composition, and does not
contain an idea suggested by myself, e. g., I did not tell him any-
thing of what he ought to write about, though, as you wiU see, he
has referred in it to various things I have said. It is composed
with a good deal of art, and several of the sentences correspond
together in a way that the Chinese caU very beautiful. Moreover
it is, as my teacher says, Haou Kan, very beautiful to see, and
Haou Ting, very beautiful to hear ; being, in fact, a Wan Chang,
which none but a Sewtsae or a Keujin could write. How difficult
it is to write I know not, but it is certainly not easy to read, for I
would rather undertake a dozen pages of the San Ko Che, or
History of the Three States, than another of these letters. It took
me a whole day to read it, with my teacher himself to. explain it
to me ; and I assure you I thought I had made no small progress
in learning Chinese, when I at last discovered the meaning.
LETTERS. 271
It seems to me the more I think about the matter, that there
must be a radical change in the hterature and hterary style of
China, before it can be made the vehicle of permanent and exten-
sive usefulness. A great deal is said of the fact, that so many in
China can read, but it is to be feared that a great deal too much
is expected from this. Their literature at present, and the style
in which it is written, reminds me very much of the state of Eu-
rope before the Reformation. There were learned men then, and
they had a learned language, different from that of every-day life,
which the common people did not understand. This learned lan-
guage was known to the learned all over Europe, and even some
of the poorer class could read it, for the alphabet was the same in
most places ; but they did not understand what they read, and of
those who did understand, and wrote in the learned language, the
less that is said the better. Who reads their writings now, or
cares for their opinions ? A new mode of thinking, and speaking,
and writing was introduced after the Reformation, and the old
has disappeared. Very much the same revolution, in my humble
judgment, must occur in China. They have a learned language
here, and unless a book be written in that language, it has little
favor. That language may be learned by many years of study,
but it is not the language of the people, nor of nature. Many
who can pronounce the characters do not understand them ; and
the world will be never the worse, if nine-tenths of the books at
present in circulation here be lost forever. Some Chinese Bacon
must arise, and do for China what Lord Verulam did for Europe.
I speak with a good deal of diffidence on these points, for I am
only forming my own opinion about them, and others who ought
to know more think differently. I am, however, very far from
supposing that the Chinese styles, either of printing, or speaking,
or writing, or acting, are always the most tasteful, or the most
convenient, or the most practically useful. In general I think
them very much like their thick-soled shoes, which my teacher
says " are very good-looking, but not so good to walk with."
There can be no doubt of the truth of the latter part of this re-
mark, while each one must judge for himself of the good looks.
.... I send you my Lvban walking-sticky which you must take
good care of, though I hope it will be long before you need to use
it. I do not want to use it myself, for it might get broken or be
lost, and therefore, for safe-keeping, I will put it in your hands.
That every blessing may ever rest upon you is the prayer of
Your affectionate son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Macao, February 2d, 1844.
My Dear Mother —
.... I send you herewith, a curiosity; it is the translation of the
Chinese letter which my teacher, at my suggestion, wrote to fa-
272 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
ther. Before he may have time to translate it, you may like to
see it ; so to gratify you I send a translation vvitli " notes and an-
notations." I send you also a copy in Chinese, which is, in fact,
more correct than the original, and is also pointed. Observe iiow
very correctly the former are used. When he speaks of America,
or of brother Roberts, or of me, he writes the characters above the
line, and when he speaks of father, he puts the characters two
spaces above the hne, while on the contrary, the solitary charac-
ter by which he designates himself is written small, and at one
side, as if he felt himself unworthy to appear in the presence of
him he speaks to. . . .
Yours affectionately, W. M. Lowrie.
CHINESE LETTER.
Worthy Father. — Exalted Man. — Tranquillity — when
THE letter is OPENED.
My family lives in the Southern State,' and my eyes have not
seen the flowery flag's^ exuberance. I dwell in the central nation,
but my soul has eagerly run after the excellence of that which is
beyond the seas. Your watches, the ingenuity of whose motions is
like the Seuenke,^ by their goodness have robbed the heavens of
their work.* Your cannon equal the terribleness of the thunder
and the lightning: thus the fame of your far distant land has
been transmitted [to the Celestial Empire.] You have also other
things of such rare skill and admirable art, that the eye is not able
to inspect them,^ and your precious jewels and divine pearls'^ are
such that words with difficulty can enumerate them.
Your nephew^ unworthily occupies the instructor's seat. Con-
stantly near, he receives excellent information from your honora-
ble son: without any claim to enjoy this learned intimacy, he has
often heard of the venerable father's^ astonishing attainmejits. 1
have desired to cross the sea, and ascend the hills ; myself to
roam over the unsurpassed land. One reason is, that I might
see that great country's magnificent excellencies, — thus opening
my eyes on prospects unseen before.^ Another reason is, that I
1 " Southern State:" formerly a designation of the Provinces of Canton, Fuhkeen,
Kwangsi, and Houkwang. The writer lives in Hway-Chow, in the province of
Canton.
2 ' Flowery Flag," i. e., American ; almost the only name by which we are known.
3 " The Seuenke" is some very superior astronomical instrument, perhaps the ar-
millary sphere.
* Heaven's work." is to regulate the seasons; but our watches are so good that
there is now no need of the heavens !
5 Literally, '• the eye cannot receive them :" it was not made to contemplate such
excellent things.
6 ' Precious jewels and divine pearls" are the ornaments of our houses, &c.
'' A term showing my teacher's sense of his inferiority.
8 "The venerable father," to wit the person to whom he is writing.
9 Like the countryman, never out of his own village, I have seen nothing. I wish
to see the wonderful sights of your country.
LETTERS. 273
might hear the venerable superior's precious jewels, *° thus regula-
ting my own heart and life. But it is not in my power. My
family is poor and my children young, and I cannot take the Foo
bird's rapid course." I only can embrace this opportunity and
send the fishes letter,*^ to perform the duty of asking of your
health, and your nightly repose.'^ Accordingly the carp fish mes-
senger'4 bears the inmost desires and inmost praises of my heart.
May my venerable superior's body be [strong] as the hills and as
the mountains. Yea, may my venerable superior's life be [long
and glorious] as the sun and as the moon.
If my venerable superior in his condescending compassion
should favor me with a single letter, calling me to come, then
your nephew will speedily prepare for the voyage, and go with
haste that he may respectfully hear your important commands.
I have also heard that several of your excellent sons have in
regular course entered the Learned Door,'^ and that you have a
son who daily exercises himself in the Zeen and the Fun. '« At a
future day they will certainly possess talents to rule the world,
and surpass the virtues of the heroic ranks.
As to Lowrie,^'^ your third honorable son, of books he has read
more than five hundred volumes ;"^ and he is thoroughly trained
in all the accomplishments of the six arts.^^ His name dwells
among the ranks of modest piety, ^^ and his talents surpass even
those of the luen of heaven. Your nephew's abilities are mean
and his learning small; how am I able to become his exemplar?
But the cutter of grass and the gatherer of stubble, the common
laborer and the pedler, all have something that may be profitable
to the Holy Sages ; and your nephew, (unworthily dwelling at
learning's door,*^') therefore did not excuse himself from the West-
10 "Venerable superior's precious jewels :" i. e., the instructions and remarks of the
person to whom he writes.
11 Two friends being at a great distance one of them collected a number of Foo
birds, and by their means came from Pekin to Canton in thrfe or four hours.
'- A wife, being separated from her husband wrote a letter and gave it to a great
fish, which carried it safely, and delivered it to the husband.
'3 Literally, ' to ask your welfare and to ask your repose:"' alluding to the duty
of children, in the morningto inquin- of their parents' health, and in the evening to see
that everything is comfortable in their sleeping apartments.
i*! A father and son being separated and without the means of communication, the
son dropped a letter into tlie river, and a carp fish carried it off. The carp being
caught, was bought by the father, who, opening it, unexpectedly found his son's letter.
'5 'To enter the Learned Door" is to become a Sewtsae ; equivalent to our A. B.
He refers particularly to brother Roberts.
's The Zeen and the Fun are different Chinese books : he refers to brother Reuben,
who has not yet entered Learning's Door.
'T In this rhapsody you will hardly recognize W. M. L.
18 I told him once that in all my life I had read probably some five hundred volumes,
at which he was astonished.
•9 The six arts are, the rules of Decorum, Music, Archery, Driving a carriage, Writ-
ing, and Arithmetic.
20 ' Modest piety," i. e., a Keujin, the title of their second degree of literature j equiv-
alent to our A. M.
21 Being a Sewtsae.
18
274 MEMOIR OP WALTER M. LOWRIE.
ern Seat,^^ that thus he might assist Lowrie, the elder born,''' the
third iionorable son, in his noble observations and inquiries.^^
With seriousness writing this, I will reverently wait to hear of
your golden repose. Also I beg that every good thing, in all
variety, may beam around you without cessation or limit.
Your unworthy nephew,
Ching'^ tsze keun.
Bows the head26 and worships.
Kwei Mow2^ Year, Lee month.^s From Macao, in the province
of Canton, it is sent.
Macao, February 10th, 1844.
Rev. John Lloyd —
My Dear John : — ... How it made my heart beat to think
that tliis year I may see you here ! I fell into a reverie just now,
and thought I was walking along the beach and yoii landed.
What a shaking of hands and an embracing there was ! Then
I began to ask you questions ; but though you talked fast, you
did not talk half fast enough to satisfy me. . . .
Many thanks for your long, kind letter. It is the second I have
received, and I hope I may have another soon. I am glad my
journal gave you so much pleasure.
How many things we shall have to say to each other when you
come. Yet sometimes I fear we shall not be allowed to meet; or
if we meet, shall have to part again ; and I feel as though I
ought not to hope for too much. How often we are disappointed
in the very place where we expected most ! I have learned some
deeply painful lessons since I came here, though not more pain-
ful than needed.
Why do you give way so much to melancholy forebodings?
" Why should the children of a king
Go mourning all their days ?"
Our gracious Father has now led you along for more than nine
years, and are you still afraid to trust him ? How much would you
and I have given, nine years ago, to be told we should persevere
till now ! yet here we are. Thus far the Lord hath led us on,
and will not he whose hand has ever been around us still lead us ?
22 The teacher in properly arranged schools sits at the western side of the table.
23 " Seen Sang" is literally elder born, i. e., more honorable, but it means little
more than " Mr."
24 " He uses my aid, as the Emperor condescends occasionally to ask the members
of the Hanlin, or Royal College, to explain some matter."
25 Ching. He told me at first that his name was Hwang. He had been for some
reason advised to take that name ; but he said he could not write a feigned name to
the venerable person to whom he was writing.
28 Observe how small '■ sJioio" is written. "It is our custom."
27 Kwei mow is the 40th year of the cycle of sixty, which commenced in 1804.
28 Lee month is the 12th month, this being the last month of the present year.
LETTERS. 275
Can he not take as much care of us hereafter, as he has hitherto
done ? I know, would that I feh, it more, that at best we are
very unprofitable servants ; but can we ever repay God for his
mercies ? must we not at last enter heaven in the righteousness
of another? Oh let us look to Christ, in whom is all our strength
and hope ; and while we labor, never forget that we are accepted,
not in our own works, but in the beloved.
I am very well, very busy, and commonly very happy. Chinese
is beginning to look inviting, and many a hearty laugh I have
with my Chinese teacher. He does not speak a word of English,
and my Chinese is broken enough ; but we make out pretty well
on a good many points. Do not be afraid of this language. It is
hard enough, hut can be learned.
Give my kindest regards to Brown and Culbertson, whom I ex-
pect to see with you before this year rolls away. The sooner you
come the better, for I suppose I must be unsettled till you all
come out, and I am getting tiied of that; so be in a hurry.
It is nearly ten o'clock. My hand is so tired, that I can scarcely
write legibly, and if I had five hundred things to say, they would
have to stay unsaid. . . .
Commending you to God and the word of his grace, which is
able to build you up and keep you until the appearing of our
Lord, I am as ever your brother in Christ,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Macao, April 19th, 1844.
My Dear Mother —
.... I am very well, and very busy. The weeks fly away, I
scarcely know where ; but the worst is, I do not seem to be doing
much. You speak of my laboring so directly for the Redeemer's
cause, but it does not appear so here. On the contrary, it seems
to me as though I were shut out from the opportunity of direct
exertions. Perhaps it is best it should be so, that I may have an
oppoitunity of tarrying at Jericho till my beard be grown ! I
would be glad indeed if we had some able men of judgment and
experience here. But do not think that I am unhappy or discon-
tented, or that I regret coming, because I thus write, for I never
was happier in my life, nor better satisfied to be anything, or
nothing, or to go anywhere that the Lord may choose to send
me, than at this time. I do long sometimes to be where I can
speak of Christ oftener ; and I look with almost envy at the lot
of some who are settled over churches : but I would not change
with anybody, for the providence of God has led me here ; and I
trust will lead me still. My only anxiety is to know where it is
the will of providence to lead me, and to be always ready to
follow that will.
What has become of that old and very black negro, who used
to carry straw about the streets in New York, and to cry it in
276 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
such a peculiarly plaintive tone ? There is a Chinese seller of
sugar-cane, who goes about here at night, and whom I hear very
often, whose voice, in the distance, sounds just hke the old negro's.
A great deal of sugar-cane is eaten by the people here. It is
brought in from the country in large bundles, and sold to pedlers,
who cut it up into pieces about eight or nine inches long. Many
of them go about the streets, with a couple of boxes slung on a
pole, and carried over the shoulder. In one box they have the
sugar-cane, and in the other a small furnace, and a kettle of hot
water, in which they steep the pieces of cane, and deliver them
hot to their customers. The price is about a cash, or perhaps
two, for a stick. . . .
Affectionately yours,
W. M. LoWRIE.
Macao, May 14th, 1844.
My Dear Father —
.... My letters to the committee will have shown you how
often I am embarrassed and at a loss how to decide the various
important questions occurring here. / rvish you loonld come out
here ; you will find enough to call into exercise all your experi-
ence. You" may lay the foundations of tliis mission on a better
basis than we who are here can do. My wish is to be prudent
and thoughtful, and to do all for the best ; but I am young and
inexperienced, yet I have more experience of the Chinese than
any of my colleagues. I have no disposition to decline respon-
sibility, and have frequently to take more than my share. What
can we do? There are things which must be done, and our
fears are that they may not be done in the best way. You
are not yet sixty years old, yet Ricci was fifty when he came to
China ; and you have had ten years of thought about this coun-
try, and are younger in constitution than most men of the same
age. Your coming might do more good than for twenty boys to
go abroad before their constitutions are settled, and who may die
before they come to their prime. It often seems to me that we
are commencing at the top instead of the bottom, when we lay
light and untried materials in the foundation. If you can come
for life so much the better, but at any rate come for jive years.
Live here and spy out the land. I have not made this request in
a spirit of levity, but after a good deal of thought and prayer. I
know how important your presence is at head-quarters, and I
know you will consider the matter calmly. God will direct you ;
and for myself, I will remember what the old farmer said, " I
can't go with you, but God Ahuighty will."
My teacher was reading the New Testament to-day, when he
observed, " This Jesus must have been a very benevolent man.
How kind it was in him to heal those sick people, and to provide
them food when they were hungry ! Truly he was a good man."
LETTERS.
277
" Yes," I observed, " he was all you say, and far more, for he was
God as Avell as man, and came from heaven to save sinlol men,
and without him no man in the world can be saved." " What !"
said he, "can none be saved in Chma without him?" "No. not
one." " Do you believe this ?" he asked. " Yes, most certainly ;
and I have left my father and mother, to come to China to tell
you of this blessed Saviour." " And how long has this been
known to the Western nations?" "O, a great many hundred
years." " Why, then," said he, " was not this knowledge seat
sooner to China ?",... — a solemn question for every Christian. . . .
I am your affectionate son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Macao, August 18th, 1844.
Rev. Levi Janvier —
Your kind letter of Sept. 29 has been on hand for some time.
I have been by many reasons prevented from answering it sooner.
It came when I was much more than ordinarily busy. I had to
assist Mr. Cole and Dr. McCartee in all their plans, who had just
come out ; and the time required in assisting Mr. Cole with his
printing office was very great. For several months I gave from
eight to ten hours a day, and sometimes more, to my Chinese
studies, and to preparing Chinese lists of characters for the print-
mg office. I have also had to preach in English nearly every Sab
bath, and as I have not learned to read other men's sermons with
any satisfaction, it took much time to prepare for this. And as to
correspondence, you know how much of it must be done, and I
have all along had my full share. In addition, it has been our
warm season ever since your letter came. There, I won't enlarge ;
you will probably not be very angry that I have not written sooner,
and I will give you a little news, such as we have.
You may have heard that the Siamese mission is suspended.
Mrs. Buell's health failed last winter, and though she recovered
somewhat, yet the doctor insisted on her going home. Just about
then Mr. and Mrs. Way came out, but being young, they did not
want to go on alone ; and they came to the conclusion, all things
considered, to give up that mission, and have him come here, while
Mr. and Mrs. Buell went home. Mr. Way arrived here in July,
and very soon after started for Ningpo. I have not yet heard of
his arrival at that place. At present we are stationed thus: Mr.
and Mrs. Cole and the printing office are here. This is only a
temporary station, and we are quite uncertain how long it shall
be retained. We do almost no direct missionary work here, but
occupy ourselves in the study of the language, and getting the
press going. Mr. C. is now printing an edition of 5000 copies of
Ephesians, and has two or three other works under weigh. So
much is yet to be done to perfect the type, that we do not expect
to do very much printing for several months. I have myself al-
27b MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
most no doubt of the success of the plan of printing with metallic
divisible type, and its finally triumphing over all others ; but it
may be a year or two before we get everything perfectly arranged.
Mr. C. has as yet done little in learning the language, and I can not
say much more for myself; though still I have learned enough to
talk with my teacher with some ease, and have had many inter-
esting discussions with him on religious subjects. We have read
over together half the Gospel of Matthew, and he has been at times
deeply interested in it, and the imperfect explanations I have been
able to give him. It is my purpose, Deo volente, to go up the
coast to Ningpo or Chusan, either this fall or next spring, with a
view to remain there permanently. I should have gone long ago,
if it had not been necessary to remain here and assist the new-
comers.
At Ainoy we have Dr. and Mrs. Hepburn, who are much pleased
with the prospects there. It is a very interesting field. At Ningpo
we have Dr. McCartee, and Mr. and Mrs. Way, who I hope are
there ere now. This we purpose making our chief mission in
China. We look for five more missionaries this year, of whom one
will probably remain here, either temporarily or permanently.
One or two go to Amoy, and the remainder to Ningpo. Such
are our plans now ; but I am often brought to think that man's
heart deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his steps. It may
be that all our plans shall be frustrated. But these things give
me little anxiety. The work is the Lord's, and must succeed, and
he uses all these instrumentalities in the way he deems best, and
certainly in the wisest way. " Behold these from the Land of Si-
nim !" It is a very pleasant thing to have a special prophecy for
the land in which one labors, and whether tlie above prophecy re-
fers to the conversion of the pagan Chinese, or to the return of the
Chinese Jews to the promised land, (for there is a colony of Jews,
that has subsisted in the heart of China since B. C. 258,) it is
equally cheering to the heart of the believer.
.... Things are very quiet here. The drought in the early
part of the season, and the rains in the after part, have greatly
injured the crop, and there is much sufl'ering among the poor.
.... My own health continues excellent, and I hope I am now
pretty well acclimated ; but the climate at Ningpo, where I wish
to go, is not so favorable as that of Macao, and I may have ano-
ther seasoning to undergo. But sufficient unto the day is the evil
thereof I rejoice heartily that I came here, though it was sadly
against my own will at first. Poor Africa ! Sawyer, you will have
heard, is dead ! If I had not felt so strongly that it was Provi-
dence that sent me here, I should be almost tempted to offer to go
there yet; for of all missionary fields, that seems to be the one
where there is most hope of a speedy and abundant harvest. In
India you are met by a system of caste, and here we are held off"
by a language that few have ever mastered. How difficult it is
to maintain one's spirituahty amidst the dry toils of dictionaries
RECOLLECTIONS OF A MISSIONARY. 279
and grammars. Yet the grace of our Lord Jesus can soften all
these, and I can truly say, that amidst every obstacle and discour-
agement, the period of my missionary life has been the happiest.
It would be a bitter trial to me now, to be obliged to return to the
United States.
Yours in Christian affection,
W. M. LoWRIE.
RECOLLECTIONS OF A MISSIONARY. NO. I.
— It was a very hot day in August, 184-, and I was lying' on
a couch, suffering from debility induced by the heat of a tropical
summer. While thus reclining, the physician of the place, a seri-
ous and moral man, but at that time making no profession of
piety, called to see me. He said he had a patient recently brought
from a neighboring city, and dangerously ill of a disease at that
time prevailing, who expressed a wish to see an evangelical cler-
gyman ; and that he, (the physician,) would be much pleased if I
would call on him. I went immediately, and on being shown
into the sick room, found a young looking man, who held out his
hand and expressed much gratification that I had called. His
Bible was lying on a chair at his bedside, and it was not many
minutes before he had told me fully and frankly his state and feel-
ings. He was the son of a pious man, who had done much for
the cause of missions in his own land. He himself had united
with the Church in his youth, and for several years maintained a
fair character, and thought himself a Christian. Of late how-
ever, and especially since coming to this heathen land, he had
greatly backslidden, and as he said, had so far forgotten his pro-
fession as to fall into open sin. While in this state he was at-
tacked with a disease which had already proved fatal to several
persons ; and though there was at first nothing very alarming in
his own case, yet it had aroused him to think on his ways, and
the Spirit of God seemed to have brought his sins strongly to his
remembrance.
When I saw him he was in great distress, fearing lest he had
committed the unpardonable sin, and that there could be no hope
for him. A few minutes' conversation showed that the instruc-
tions of his excellent father had sunk deep into his heart, and that
he was tolerably well acquainted unth the doctrines of religion,
so that it was an easy and a pleasant duty to give him the in-
structions his case required. Doubtless there are those in our
days who commit a sin for which there is no repentance, and for
which we are not commanded to pray ; but there Wf^s no evidence
that such was his case, and on this point his mind was relieved.
He i'eared, however, that he was not one of the elect, — could there
be liope for him? I told him my belief in the doctrine of election
was as firm as my belief in my own existence, but God's secret
280 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
decrees were not the rule of our faith and practice. Repent and
beUeve, and be saved ; let him make his calling sure, and the
question of his election need not trouble his mind. To this he
freely assented, and then with tears in his eyes, and the utmost
earnestness, asked if I thought it possible God could or would for-
give so vile a backslider as himself. Taking up his Bible, I
opened it at the beautiful passage in the fourteenth chapter of
Hosea : "Take with you words and turn unto the Lord: say
unto him. Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously, &c.,"
and read and explained the whole chapter. Never did it appear
so rich and precious to my own soul, and the sick man heard it
witli entranced attention. When it was finished, he exclaimed,
"What precious words those are ! Will you not pray with me?"
After prayer, and a Uttle further conversation, I left him, promis-
ing to see him again in the evening.
About sunset I called again, and found his disorder making
rapid progress, so that occasionally he seemed to be wandering in
mind. But his thoughts were on his soul's concerns, and towards
Christ ; his mind was calmer than when I first saw him, and
though he expressed much fear of death, yet he seemed to appre-
hend fully that the grace of Christ was his only refuge, and I
could not but hope that liis faith was fixed on the Saviour ; and
with a mind much lightened in regard to him, I returned to my
room. The exposure and exertions of the day in my weak state
were too much for me, and a sleepless night left me with but little
strength in the morning. As the day proved stormy, it seemed
imprudent to venture out, and accordingly I wrote a note to the
physician, requesting him to inform me if his patient should wish
for me, as otherwise I could scarcely leave the house. The kind-
hearted physician himself had some conversation with him, and
finding him in the intervals of his delirium, to be much more
peaceful, and apparently hopeful, did not send for me. He died
in the night, and when I called early the next morning I found
him laid out, with an expression of countenance like one who had
gone in peace.
Among strangers, we buried him in a stranger's grave ; for ex-
cepting the physician and myself, there were none in the place
who knew him. He had but recently arrived in this country, and
as we found in a day or two after, his partner died of the same
disease on the same day.
Soon after his death I wrote to his mother his father being
dead an account of his last moments, and of the hope I had that
" the root of the matter was found in him." Several months
passed away, and amidst other events the above was almost for-
gotten, when one day a small package from a distant land came
into my hands. It contained a beautiful copy of the memoir of
Mr. Cheyne, and a note breathing " the most heartfelt gratitude,"
and the assurance of " earnest and constant prayer for my wel-
fare." For some reason unknown to me, the writer wished to be
RECOLLECTIONS OF A MISSIONARY. 281
unknown ; but I could not avoid associating- her, (for it was a
lady's hand,) with the person spoken of above. Is it not true that
bread cast upon the waters is found after many days — ^and that
often in a way not anticipated ? The parents of that young man
" bestowed much labor" in forwarding the cause of missions, and
the dying hours of their son were cheered and consoled in a strange
land by a missionary of a different country, and a different de-
nomination. I went in weakness to visit him, without a thought
of reward, but how often has the thought cheered me since, that
in a distant land there is one or more whom 1 have never seen,
whose fervent prayers are offered up on my behalf.
RECOLLECTIONS OF A MISSIONARY. NO. II.
In December, 184—, I was requested to visit a dying ship captain.
This was Saturday evening. I went immediately, and on enter-
ing the house where he lay, found an elderly man in the last
stages of consumption. He was a pious man, and amidst all the
temptations and annoyances to which such persons in his situa-
tion are exposed, had in good measure kept himself free from re-
proach, and had made his ship a house of God upon the sea. Of
late he had been quite unwell, and was brought ashore to the
house of the consignee of his ship, where it is to be feared there
was little care or respect for religion. Being a stranger, he did
not know there were any missionaries in the place, and it was not
till this day that he was informed that there were. One of the
boys from his ship was attending him with the faithfulness of a
son ; and finding that he was drawing near his end, informed him
that I was residing not far off, and had me sent for.
He was not able to bear much conversation : but the little I
had was satisfactory, and he appeared exceedingly grateful to
have met a fellow-believer to speak with him in his last hours.
After prayer I left him, promising to call again. The next after-
noon, while administering the Lord's Supper to the little band of
fellow-laborers, and fellow-Christians in that place, I received a
hasty summons to see him. On going to the house, I found tlie
yard just before his window filled with native workmen, in the
employ of the Christian owner of the house, busily packing and
nailing boxes for a ship's cargo ! Passing through the crowd, so
unseemly on such day, and in such a place, I went to the sick
man's room, but found him nearly speechless. He knew me,
grasped me by the hand, and to my inquiries as to the state of
his soul, gave me to understand though more by looks than by
words, that all was well within. After a short prayer he fell into
a doze, from which he did not again return to consciousness, and
in a few hours his spirit departed. To him I have no reason to
doubt heaven was as near even in that land of strangers and
heathenism as though he had died among his friends. The next
282 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
day he was buried. A part of the ship's crew, one or two of the
merchants of the place, and myself, were the only spectators ; and
few or none of those who now read the inscription over his tomb,
in the field that was " bought to bury strangers in," have any
knowledge of the person who sleeps beneath. Many such graves
are there, for many have come from far distant lands to rest
there.
"He that watereth others shall be watered himself;" and in the
pleasure that this event afforded me, I found the first mitigation
of one of the greatest sorrows that a gracious God has ever been
pleased to lay upon me.
At another time I was called to visit another ship captain, but
my memory recalls few of the circumstances connected with the
occasion, except the following : After his decease, at his request, a
sum of money, amounting to about twenty dollars, was put into
my hands for any charitable purpose to which I might choose to
apply it. On the very day it was received, a poor heathen woman,
one of whose sons had been of some service to a fellow-missionary,
came to me to beg for assistance in the case of another son, who
was afflicted with the leprosy. She was in great distress : for the
neighbors, apprehensive of catching the disease, had told her she
must either place him in the hospital for such cases, or else leave
her house, and seek another abode. She was poor, and knew not
where else to find a house, and to place him in the hospital re-
quired an admission fee of twenty dollars, a sum she could not
hope to borrow, nor to earn for many months. It seemed a provi-
dence: the money just sent was at once placed at her disposal,
and with a light heart she went on her way rejoicing.
But a few weeks before leaving the place where I had been re-
siding for more than two years, I was requested to visit another
ship captain, who had been brought ashore with a dangerous ill-
ness, and was supposed to be near his end. Unlike the one men-
tioned in the first part of this paper, the owner of this house was
seriously disposed, and had not only spoken faithfully to the sick
man himself, but induced him to send for a clergyman. On being
shown into his room, he seemed very glad to see me ; but 1 was
painfully impressed with the eagerness he expressed for "comfort."
He was a well-educated, intelligent man, and had thought some
for himself; but I was sorry to find, was quite skeptically disposed.
He could not believe that mankind were so bad as cleigymen
commonly thought they were. He could scarcely believe that the
Son of God had come down to suffer for the inhabitants of this
petty world, which was, in the greatness of the universe, " but as
a single leaf in the forest." Surprised at these remarks, I asked
if he were not a believer in revelation. " Oh yes," said he ; " yes,
but sometimes these thoughts will come into my mind." I be-
sought him to exchange these thoughts for others better suited to
his situation, and after some further conversation and prayer, left
him with my mind ill at ease ; for all his anxieties seemed to be for
LETTERS. 283
comfort, and none for pardon and reconciliation with God. Yet
he professed much gratitude, and begged me to call again. I did
so in a da}^ or two, and found his disorder had taken a favorable
turn, and with it his seriousness had nearly gone. It was difficult
to induce him to speak of his soul ; but having no reason to hope
that he would recover, as his physician thought the disease would
soon return, I endeavored as faithfully as possible to warn him of
his state and prospects. He listened politely, but with little inter-
est, until a fit of coughing seized him, and I thought it best not
to say more. I called once or twice after, but he declined seeing
me, and the gentleman of the house with whom he was staying,
told me that as soon as he began to think himself getting better,
his thoughts returned to earthly things. Poor man ! A few days
after this, he embarked in a vessel for his native land, and the
next notice I had of him was, that he died soon after getting out
to sea, and was buried in the ocean.
Macao, December 27th, 1844.
Rev. John M. Lowrie —
My Dear Cousin : — Since April, 1843, I have preached in
English, once a week, to a small congregation of English and
Americans, some of whom are pious. It is the custom of most of
the missionaries just to take printed sermons and read them off,
which is well known by the people. I have done so myself sev-
eral times, but never liked the plan, nor felt comfortable in adopt-
ing it. As the people who attend are very intelligent, I found it
required a good deal of care to prepare sermons that would be pro-
fitable ; and that I could give most instruction in the fewest
words, and with least labor to myself, by writing out my sermons.
I have done this commonly, and have now nearly fifty written
discourses, besides several skeletons. As I lost all my written
sermons when shipwrecked, the preparation of these has been at-
tended with some degree of labor, and takes as much time as I
can at present afford to give. 1 felt, indeed, some scruple al)out
giving so much time to a work not directl}' the one for which I
came here, but felt satisfied about it on considering that I am still
young, and the labor and study of preparing sermons would be
of essential benefit to me ; and I have found it so. Preaching is
a very delightful work, and I have only regretted that I could not
give more time to it. . . .
It was a great disappointment to Lloyd and myself not to be
together, l)ut it seemed to be clearly the will of Providence that
we should deny ourselves that gratification, and it is quite uncer-
tain whether we shall ever see each other again. As it was. we
could be together less than two weeks, and in that time I did not
learn half as much as I wanted. Hugh Brown, too, will go to
the same station with Lloyd, and as Happer will be at Hong Kong,
284 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
I shall be " a stranger in the earth." So be it ! It is good to feel
that this is not our home, nor our rest
I am your affectionate cousin,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Macao, December 28th, 1844.
Rev. James Montgomery —
My Dear Brother : — Your letter of January 15th, which
came to hand August 6th, gave me great pleasure, for it told me
that though you had not written, your heart was still unchanged.
I observed one thing in it, which has struck me in a number of
other letters 1 have received. Speaking of my shipwreck, you re-
mark, that you could scarce help thinking that I was preserved
for some great end in this part of the world. The same idea has
been expressed to me by several other of my correspondents, and
I can sometimes scarcely avoid thinking it may be so ; and yet
the thought of it almost makes me tremble, for what a responsi-
bility does it throw upon me, and what a foreshadowing, so to
speak, is there in such an expectation of great trials and conflicts?
It is through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom
of heaven. It is in the way of " much tribulation" that great good
is commonly effected; and if I am to be the instrument of good
here, I cannot expect to avoid trials and sorrows, greater perhaps
by far than any that have yet come upon ine. I do not murmur
at this. If I know my own heart, I do not wish to shrink from
any cross or any burden God sees good or needful to lay upon me ;
but oh ! how much do I need grace, yea, " more grace," to fit me
for the trials of my work here. Pray for me, that when having
done all and suffered all, I may stand accepted in the merits of
Jesus Christ. I have had some little experience of tribulation
since leaving the United States. I have known what it is to bear
with long delays and hopes deferred, making the heart sick. I
have gone through perils on the deep, and have been tried with
the perversities and waywardness of some who had made the
warmest professions of attachment.
Whither do all these things tend 1 Is the trial over yet, or am
I to go through the furnace again ? Dear Brother, I confess my
heart sometimes treuibles when I ask myself these questions. For
after all this sifting, and searching, and refining, I still find so
much of dross and impurity, that I sometimes think the furnace
must be made " one seven times hotter," before I am fit for my
work. If I have a work to do here, God will certainly prepare me
for it. I do not wish to shrink from the preparation, but I do feel
that without more grace I cannot endure it. Yet I dare not give
way to fear. Hitherto the Lord hath helped me. In every trial
hitherto, grace has been sufficient, and shall I not trust him for
the future ? And when I look back I am obliged to say, that not-
withstanding all the sorrows I have felt since leaving the United
LETTERS. 285
States, no period of my life has been so happy as the last three
years. As the sufferings have abounded, so have the consolations;
and were it not for some undefined anticipations of the future, I
should be ashamed to speak of my sorrows that are past at all. . . .
Surely it is a wonder of sovereign grace, that God saves any of
such a sinful race as ours is ! We fight against him, and provoke
him, even when he has shown us his love.
We have now a pretty large mission here, and I trust will soon
be settled and all at work. Cannot you come ? I should rejoice
to have you with me ; and I can assure you that I do not think
your age a sufficient reason for not coming, if you have no other.
Farewell, piay for me, and believe me,
Ever yours, in Christian bonds,
W. M. LOWRIE.
CHAPTER VII.
1845.
DIFFERENT MISSIONS ESTABLISHED — LEAVES MACAO — VOYAGE UP THE COAST
NINGPO CHINESE WRITTEN AND SPOKEN LANGUAGES.
During this year the missions of the Presbyterian Church in
China began to assume a more settled form. In the first part of
the year, the missionaries had all reached their respective stations,
and commenced their work under favorable and encouraging cir-
cumstances. In April, Messrs. Culbertson and Lowrie arrived at
Ningpo, and Mr. Loomis at Tinghai, on the island of Chusan ;
and in July the printing-press was removed to Ningpo. In May,
the Rev. H. A. Brown reached Amoy. During the year, a boys'
boarding-school was commenced at Macao, and another at Ningpo,
under circumstances of much promise. During the summer, their
number was lessened by the return home of Dr. Hepburn and his
wife, on account of the failure of Mrs. Hepburn's health. This
was a great trial to the mission at Amoy. Dr. Hepburn had ac-
quired a knowledge of the Chinese language, and was greatly
esteemed both by the native population and foreign residents.
The missionary labors of the year at Ningpo, the description of
the country, and the general aspects of this new field of labor are
so fully related in the letters and journals of this period, that noth-
ing further need be added here.
In connection with the account of the missions in China, it is
proper to notice the Edict of the Emperor, dated 28th December,
1844, giving full toleration for the exercises of the Christian re-
ligion. This remarkable document is one of the great events of
the age. It was granted at the request of M. Lagrene, the French
ambassador, on a memorial to the Emperor, from Keying, the
Imperial Commissioner. It gives full toleration to all who profess
the religion of Tien Chu^ or the Lord of Heaven. This is the
term used by the Roman Catholic missionaries to denote the
Christian religion, and when the edict was issued, it was consid-
LETTERS. 287
ered sufficiently comprehensive to embrace the Christian rehgion
as professed by Protestants.
By later proceedings of the civil authorities, this construction
appeared to be erroneous. On the 2d of November, 1845, procla-
mations were issued by the authority of the Imperial Commis-
sioner, and the Lieutenant Governor of Canton, stating " that the
religion of the Lord of Heaven consists in periodically assembling
for unitedly worshipping the Lord of Heaven, in respecting and
venerating the cross, with pictures and images, as well as in read-
ing aloud the works of said religion."
By this explanation Protestants were excluded from the benefits
of the edict of toleration, and much dissatisfaction was felt and
expressed at this restriction. But this feeling was of short dura-
tion. On the 22d of December, 184.5, Keying, the Imperial Com-
missioner, in a letter to the Consul of the United States, at Canton,
states, " that some local magistrates had made improper seizures,
taking and destroying crosses, pictures, and images, and after
dehberation it was agreed that these might be reverenced. Orig-
inally, I did not know that there were among the nations these
differences in their rehgious practices. Now, with regard to the
religion of the Lord of Heaven, no matter whether the crosses,
pictures, and images, be reverenced or not reverenced, all who,
acting well, practice it, ought to be held blameless. All the great
western nations being placed on an equal footing, only let them
acting well practice their religion, and China will in no way pro-
hibit or impede their so doing. Whether their customs be alike
or unlike, certainly it is right that there should be no distinction,
and no obstruction."
Thus did this subject come three times before the civil authori-
ties of China, and the important distinction between Protestants
and Roman Catholics was thus brought to their notice ; and much
to the credit of the Chinese government, all are equally protected.
Hong Kong^ February 12th, 1845.
My Dear Father —
Your very welcome letter of August 30th, came to hand last
Sabbath, being the first I have received from you for four months,
the longest period of not hearing, since my first letters reached me.
It does begin to appear as if years had elapsed since I saw you.
Letters written home and answers received, answers written back,
and replies to those answers received, and soon I shall have re-
plies to these last.
288 MEMOIR OP WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Having finished all I had to do in Macao. I left that place Jan-
uary 21st, and came here to take joassage for Chusan. I expect
to have as a fellow-passenger, the Rev. T. McClatchie, missionary
of the Church Missionary Society, of whom I have formed a very
good opinion. The Rev. George Smith, his colleague, is in very
poor health, and I fear can do no more than visit the different
ports, and then return to England. I shall regret this exceeding-
ly, for 1 have conceived a very liigh opinion of him. The connec-
tion of these excellent men with the Established Church of Eng-
land gives them much influence with the people from England in
China ; but at the same time it requires them to be doubly cautious
not to give any ground of complaint against themselves, (^n this
subject, however, I feel daily that we have reason for gratitude in
our American citizenship, and the perfect freedom of the Church
from all connection with the Stale. It is not by might nor by
power, but by God's Spirit that our work is to be done. May God
grant the time soon to come when the kitigdoms of this world shall
become the kingdoms of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I have never heard you express any opinion about the Millena-
rian scheme. But a remark you once made, " I think the Millen-
ium will be only a great revival of religion," leads me to suppose
either that you had not then examined it, or thought unfavorably
of it. I have paid a good deal of attention to it of late, and with-
out being able to say I am convinced, I must say that my former
opinions are greatly shaken. That the Jews will be restored to
their own country I firmly believe.
I wish you would examine the whole subject and let me know
what you think of it. The connnon opinion against this view is,
that it cuts the sinews of missionary effort. I do not feel this.
Several of the missionaries in China are Millenarians ; and look-
ing at it as I do, I feel that if I could think it true, it would give
me an additional inducement to the great work of preaching the
Gospel, and additional hopes of immediate success.
February 14. Messrs. Loomis and Culbertson are going in the
Isabella Ann, to sail the 19th. I have taken passage in the
Rob Roy, to sail the 16th. I have been detained here a long
time, and it is important that I go up north as soon as possible,
I trust it will be the last voyage I may have to take for many
years to come. I have no fears as to the result of it, though
I confess I should not be surprised if I were landed in Japan.
" Man's heart deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his steps."
Your affectionate son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
THE VOYAGE UP THE COAST.
Macao, January 19th, 1845.
It is three years to-day since I left my father's house. Many
changes have come over me since then ; trials and afflictions have
JOURNAL. 289
befallen me, bnt out of them all the Lord hath dehvered me, and
having obtained help of him I continue to this day. For nearly
two years I have been preaching to a small congregation of
Enghsh and Americans, once every Sabbath. To-day I preached
my last sermon to them, and bade them farewell. How many of
them shall I meet in peace at the great day of reckoning? As far
as they are concerned at least, I feel myself pure from their blood.
I have not shunned to declare unto them the whole counsel of
God. And to some at least it has been a blessing ; would that
the same could be said of all !
January 21st., 1845. I bade farewell to Macao, and turned my
face to the north. It was not without apprehensions that I con-
templated another voyage, and that against the strong north-east
monsoon, for nearly every voyage I have made since arriving in
China has been attended with disaster, and not a few of my friends
shook their beads ominously when I spoke of tempting the sea
again. Yet the path of duty seemed clear. Nothing further of
any consequence remained for me to do in Macao, and it was de-
sirable on several accounts, that I should as speedily as possible
proceed to Ningpo. Committing my way, therefore, to that God
who had heretolbre led me, even through the deep waters, and
preserved me in the most imminent perils, and led me by paths
that I knew not, I left Macao, a place that had become endeared
to me by many associations and recollections.
It was far from my intention to have spent so long a time in
Macao; but various intimations of Providence had kept me there
nearly two years and a half How many events have occurred in
that tinie ! When I arrived, there was war between England
and China, and most men thought it would be of long continu-
ance. Yet in a few months the war was ended, a treaty of peace
was negotiated, and five ports in China were thrown open to for-
eigners. Extravagant hopes began to fill men's minds, and many
expectations were indulged, which have not been realized. When
the supplementary treaty was signed, (Oct. 8th, 1843,) boasts long
and loud were uttered, and hopes rose yet higher. But had men
been wise and studied God's law and providence, they must have
seen there was reason to fear that treaty could not prosper. The
Christian Plenipotentiary who negotiated it, agreed to the propo-
sal of a Heathen Statesman, and signed it on the Lord's day!
There was all the parade and circumstance of military pomp, and
men in their joy forgot that there is a God who will not suffer his
law to be violated with impunity. This treaty, far less than the
treaty of Nanking, has satisfied the expectations at first formed.
Rather it has bitterly disappointed them, for some of its clauses
have nearly crushed the commercial importance of Hong Kong.
What changes and accessions in our own mission ! I have
seen McBryde go home, and have welcomed here, Hepburn and
Cole, and McCartee and Way, and Loomis and Lloyd, and Cul-
bertson and Happer. Several of them are already settled in their
290 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
appointed stations, and now our Chinese mission, after various
fluctuations, wears a more settled and promising aspect, than at
any former time.
What changes in the other missions ! Mrs. Boone and Mrs.
Dean, Mr. Dyer, Mr. Morrison,* Mrs. Ball and Mrs. Shuck, have
gone to their reward. Some have gone home on visits, one no
more to return. Others have come in their places. More than
half the missionaries now in China have arrived within the last
three years, though of these several had been laboring in other
parts for the Chinese. It has been a time of breaking up and set-
tling down again ; but like the sea whose waters heave, even
when the storm has died away, there is a heaving and a motion
yet. What shall the end of these things be ? Little do we know,
and still less can we foresee, but " the Lord reigneth, let the earth
rejoice." Whatever changes may occur, all shall accomplish good.
"I will overturn and overturn and overturn until he. come, whose
right it is : and I will give it him." — Ezek. xxi. 27.
Comparatively few vessels sail for the northern ports of China
during the N. E. monsoon, and I was detained nearly a month in
Hong Kong. Yet the delay, though tedious, was not unpleasant,
for there were many friends there, and letters from home brought
me cheering news. At length I succeeded in getting a berth on
board the Rob Roy. She is a clipper bark, built in Calcutta, to
trade between India and China. The captain and mates are
English, and her crew a motley mixture of Bengalis, Malays,
Manila men, with one or two Arabs, two Chinese, and a Portu-
guese from Goa, who is the blackest man on board.
I regretted much that the vessel sailed to-day, which is the
Sabbath, but this I could not prevent ; all my baggage of course
was put on board yesterday, and had she sailed early in the morn-
ing, I should have slept on board. But knowing that there
would be much bustle and confusion, I thought I could spend
the Sabbath morning more profitably on shore. Got a note from
the captain, saying she would leave anchorage at eleven, a. m. ;
so about ten I bade my kind friends farewell, and came on
board. It looks but little like the Sabbath here. The men were
washing the decks, officers busy, merchants and clerks from the
town on board, and altogether it was far, far from pleasant.
Shortly after eleven we started, but were detained nearly two
hours in getting out of the harbor, by the consignees not having
all the papers ready. How little of the Sabbath was kept by the
consignees, officers, and sixty-three Lascars and other persons con-
cerned in the sailing of this single vessel !
We left Hong Kong on the 16th of February, with a fair wind,
which carried us out of the harbor, but it soon fell calm, and then
we had the N. E. monsoon directly in our teeth. Our vessel is a
* Although Mr. Morrison was not a missionary himself, he was one of our warmest
friends, and his death was as much a loss to the missionaries, as to any other class in
China.
JOURNAL. 291
very fast sailer, and consequently in " beating passages," very wet,
and her deck was seldom dry. On the 18th we passed immense
numbers of fishing-boats ; I counted one hundred and ninety-five
at one time in sight, and that was not nearly all. We kept close
along the Chinese coast for several days, beating against the wind,
and making tolerably good progress. After reaching Breaker
Point, we stretched across the Formosa Channel. The wind was
strong, and the sea high, and for two or three days we were
uncomfortable enough. In eight days after leaving Formosa,
we saw the high land on the southern end of Formosa. A
whole day was spent in beating about there, and then, getting a
favorable breeze, we sailed " in a smother of foam," into the wide
Pacific Ocean. As we saw it, it did not correspond with its name,
for the restless heaving, and rolling, and tossing of the waves, agi-
tated as they were by a strong wind, was anything but peaceful.
The wind and current still favoring us, we were soon as far on
our way as the northern end of Formosa. It is rather remark-
able that while a strong current sets to the southward on the
western side of Formosa, there is a current in the opposite direc-
tion on the east. The reason probably is, that the N. E. monsoon
drives a large body of water from the Yellow and Eastern seas,
down the Formosa Channel ; and to supply the deficiency thus
caused, a current sets up from the eastern side of the same island.
We passed several islands on our route, but they were small and
rocky, and most probably barren. Of Formosa itself we saw noth-
ing after the first day. This large and populous island, which
may be called the granary of some of the eastern provinces of
China, is as yet without the presence of any missionary, either
Protestant or Roman Catholic. The western part is under the
dominion of the Emperor of China, but the inhabitants of the
mountains in the centre have not been subdued, and the eastern
shore is almost unknown.
We were so much favored in the first part of our voyage that
we reached the latitude of the Chusan islands in sixteen days,
which at this season of the year is a very quick run ; but the re-
mainder of our voyage was not so speedy. We had then less
than two hundred miles further to go, but a succession of baffling
head winds caused us to spend a whole week in going that short
distance. It was not till Tuesday, March 11, that we cast anchor
at Woosung, twenty-three days after leaving Hong Kong. In the
favorable monsoon the voyage is made with ease in less than ten
days. It was a very rough voyage, and except in urgent cases
should not be attempted, especially by females. The roughness
of the passage renders it nearly impossible to spend one's time
profitably, and three or four weeks, or even five, for the voyage
is often that long, is too much time to be thrown away. There
is also all the risk, which is not small, and the exposure, which, com-
ing from the warm latitude of Canton, to the colder chmate of the
north, is not a little disagreeable. Yet men of the world submit
292 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
to all this, and much more, for the sake of earthly riches, and the
missionary should not hesitate to do the same when the great ob-
ject of his life can be gained by the sacrifice of some personal ease
or comfort.
Most persons dislike the sea, and it is common to speak of the
monotony and tedium of long vo3^ages. There is little to be seen
that is new after the first few days, and without caution and
watchfulness, one is apt to become impatient and fretful. Yet
with due care, it need not be so. The best of all expedients to
make the time pass pleasantly, is to have something to do, and to
do it. It requires some resolution to keep one's self constantly
employed, but the exertion is amply repaid. And there is much,
even amidst the sameness of sea life, that is deeply instructive.
God has so ordered all things in nature, that they form a constant
commentary and illustration of invisible and eternal things. That
more of such analogies can be traced in the sailor's life than in
any other I will not presume to say, but I have often been sur-
prised, and oftener still instructed as well as gratified, with the
illustrations of the Christian's course which the voyage of a ship
affords. The various changes of the weather, now calm and sun-
shiny ; now stormy and dark ; now rapidly speed uig on with
prosperous breezes, and anon, painfully laboring against thevv^ind;
who has not felt such changes as these in his Christian course? —
The unceasing diligence of all concerned, especially the captain and
officers, their constant study of the charts and books of directions,
and their anxiety to secure observations of the sun and stars, that
they may know their daily progress and position ; who does not
recognize in ihis the duty of the Christian to study carefully the
great chart and book which God has given to direct us on our
way, and by earnest looking iipirard, to gain wisdom from on
high to lead our steps? — Tlie constant look-out for danger, and
the anxiety to avoid hidden shoals, to mark the progress and di-
rection of the currents, and to take advantage of every wind that
blows ; how often have they reproved me for being so careless of
danger, and so negligent where Christ said, " Watch !" and so in-
different to the Spirit's influences, which, " like the wind," must
waft the soul to heaven. When the ship has dropped her anchor
in the port, universal joy possesses every heart. The dangers and
watchings and fatigues of the voyage are over, the rewards of labor
are now to be enjoyed, and the quietness and peace of home to
repay the toils and perils that are past. " They are glad because
they are quiet, and because they are brought to their desired ha-
ven," but how much more real and satisfying is the Christian's
joy, when he enters the haven of rest, his home in the skies.
There " there is no more sea."
The entrance of the great river Yang-tsze Keang (child of the
ocean) is rather difficult, especially to vessels drawing much
water. So much earth is brought down by this immense stream,
and deposited in the sea, that the water is quite shallow for many
JOURNAL — SHANGHAI. 293
miles, and a vessel is in danger of running aground long before
the land is seen. The coasts of China in this latitude are low,
and perfectly level, and the land can scarcely be seen more than
ten miles off. The strength of the tides is also very great, and
several vessels have already been lost on the sands and rocks off
the entrance of the river. Until lighthouses are erected, and
buoys properly placed, more than ordinary caution will be re-
quired of the officers of vessels visiting Shanghai.
After entering the river, the course is north-west, to Woosung.
Entering the Woosung river, the course is south-west, about
fourteen miles to Shanghai.
The whole country for many miles around the city is a perfect
plain, having only sufficient elevation and depression to carry off
the water. There is not a single hill within twenty miles ot"
Shanghai, which, of course, renders the appearance of the coun-
try uninteresting. The soil, however, is rich and productive, and
excepting the space occupied by the graves, is in a high state of
cultivation. There are no stones, nor even small pebbles, for in a
trip of some twenty miles along the Woosung river, not a stone
was to be seen, except such as had been brought from a distance.
Farm houses and small villages dot the country in every direc-
tion, and clumps of bamboos, with orchards of peaches and plum
trees, and willows by the water-courses, relieve the sameness of
the ground. Two crops, one of wheat, and the other of cotton,
are raised every year, and in some parts a third crop of rice is
also procured. Rice, however, is not so much cultivated here as
in the more southern parts of China, and as there are few paddy
fields near the city, the ground is not so marshy as to render it
unhealthy.
The city of Shanghai is pleasantly situated at the junction of
the Woosung and Hwangpoo rivers. It is of a circular form,
surrounded by walls, about fifteen feet high, and nearly four miles
in circumference. The suburbs near the rivers are thickly in-
habited, and the population is estimated at about two hundred
thousand inhabitants. By the Woosung river it is connected
with the city of Soochow, the capital of the province, and one of
the most luxurious and wealthy in the empire, and also with the
Grand Canal which reaches to Peking. Hence its situation is
one of great importance, and its trade is immense. Rows of
junks are moored for nearly two miles along the bank of the
Hwangpoo, on the east of the city, and vessels are constantly
arriving and departing. Already it is attracting a large share of
foreign commerce, and many suppose that it will soon rival, if
not surpass Canton, as a place for foreign trade. Sixty-five for-
eign vessels have already entered the port, though it is but a year
and a half since business commenced to be done there. The
great tea and silk districts of China are nearer to Shanghai than
to Canton, and if proper encouragement be held out, a large part
294 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
of those articles which were formerly carried at great expense to
the latter place, will find their way either to Shanghai or Ningpo.
Every foreigner who has visited this place, gives the inhabi-
tants a much better character than those of Canton. They are
rather taller, of a more ruddy complexion, and much more civil
and well-disposed than their southern countrymen. In passing
through the streets one is rarely insulted, and the opprobrious
epithets so common in Canton and Macao are scarcely ever heard
here.
The change that has come over the intercourse of the Chinese
with foreigners within the last few years, is indeed wonderful. Five
years ago we were confined to the suburbs of a single city. Ex-
posed to insult and scorn even there, and denied the privilege of
using the sedan chair, which the poorest Chinese may have by
paying a hundred cash.* While such a thing as the wives or
daughters of the foreign barbarians being allowed to enter the
precincts of the " Celestial Empire," was out of the question.
In Shanghai, Dr. Lockhart and myself walked quietly to the
English consulate in the heart of the city, where divine service
was held, on the Sabbath, whilst his wife and sister went be-
fore us in the sedan chairs — and, excepting a few dogs which
had not yet become reconciled to the presence of foreigners, none
moved his tongue against us, and we felt as secure as though we
had been in the cities of our native lands.
The appearance of the city of Shanghai is not very prepossess-
ing. The houses are crowded close together, and there are few
buildings that make much pretensions to even Chinese ideas of
architectural beauty, while by the Chinese themselves it ranks
rather pre-eminent among the "dirty cities" of the Empire. Of
one house now occupied by a foreigner, I was assured that when
rented to him, it had not been cleaned for twenty years, and was
in consequence, " unspeakably dirty," and with my own e3'^es, I
saw the dirt lying full four inches thick on the floor of a temple
in the heart of the city.
The Roman Catholics once had a strong footing in Shanghai.
Paul Siu, an officer of the highest rank, and his daughter Can-
dida, who were the two most powerful and liberal friends the
Jesuits ever possessed in China, were natives of this city, and
several monuments to his memory are still found within the walls.
In one place, the heathen descendants of Siu offer incense to his
image. One of the idol temples in the city was formerly a chapel
of the Roman Catholics, and is even now commonly called the
"Teen-choo-tang," or "Hall of the Lord of Heaven," the name
they give their places of worship in China. There are many
Roman Catholic converts in the province of Keang-su, and several
foreign priests, who dress in Chinese clothes, and live as the
Chinese do. The R. C. Bishop of Keang-nan and Shantung, an
* About nine cents.
JOURNAL CHUSAN. 295
Italian, and a nephew of the Pope, by the way, resides within
five miles of Shanghai.
Saturday, 3Uth March, 1815. Left Slianghai on yesterday, and
reached Woosung to-day about eleven o'clock. I went ashore,
and strolled up the banks of the Yang-tsze Keang about three
miles. The river is so wide, you cannot see the other bank. The
country being very low, high embankments are raised to protect
the land from the high tides. The embankment along the Yang-
tsze Keang, is faced with solid masonry four feet thick and about
fifteen feet high, for several miles — how far exactly I cannot say,
but as far as I went or could see, it was so. The termination of
my walk was the little city of Paouhau, which is walled and has
four gates. The city is square, the circuit of the walls very little
more than a mile, and nearly all the houses are ranged along the
two streets that extend from the gates and intersect in the centre
of the town. The rest of the space witliin the walls is occupied
by gardens. I should not think the population was more than
two thousand. The houses outside the walls were larger and
more numerous than those within. I went right through the
town, then out at the same gate, a crowd of boys at my heels,
then half round the walls, and then back to the ship.
Tuesday, April 1st. About eleven o'clock in the morning, cast an-
chor in Chusan harbor, and my Joy at finding myself safe at my
journey's end, was only equalled by that of finding the Isabella
Ann with Loomis and Cuibertson safe on board. She arrived on
Saturday, after a thirty-eight days' passage, which, from the ac-
counts they have given me, was not only very unpleasant, but
even dangerous ; but we are all safe here. ThanKs to God, who
holds the winds and directs the storms.
In the day-time went through the city of Tinghai. Loomis
and his wife remain here for the present. The Culbertsons go to
Ningpo to-morrow. I shall remain several days and go to Ningpo
early next week.
Tinghai is in the centre of a large valley, with high hills on
three sides. At this time the valley is all green and yellow with
crops of beans, barley, and cabbage in flower, and looks very well.
The streets are, I think, cleaner than is usual in Chinese towns.
In the evening I walked with Loomis and Cuibertson over the lit-
tle island just opposite Tinghai ; a splendid view from the top ;
quite delighted to find some Ijlue and Avhite violets growing on the
hill.
Wednesday, April 2d. Went to the Isabella Ann to see about
my freight. Found my mattress was missing, and several boxes
of my books wet. Had not time to open them, but shall doubt-
less find them much spoiled. The Rob Roy being so full, I could
not bring them in her, and had to send them by the other. Mr.
Bates, an American merchant, the only American here, has very
kindly offered me a room while I stay here.
Thursday, April 3d. I had my boxes from the Isabella Ann
296 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
taken to Mr. Loomis's house, and as ihey had got wet on board
the ship, I had serious misgivings about their condition. I opened
them to-day ; but oh, what a mess ! My books, my noble books,
on which I prided myself so much ; some were utterly ruined,
more than half are seriously injured, three-fourths are greatly de-
faced, and not one-fourth have escaped without some damage.
Five hundred dollars would not replace the injury they have
suffered.
The mate of the vessel who stowed them a^vay, "thought they
were spirits or wine," and put them in the part of the vessel where
such articles are kept, where, if water should come, no harm is
done ! I fancy he had some spirits in his head when he thought
so. Well, there was no use of crying, or scolding, or fretting ; so
I did not lose my temper. I only wished I had not brought so
many ; but as wishing was of no avail, I commenced to rub and
air them. I got two Chinese to help me. They will be a pitiable
sigiit when all is done.
Friday, April 4th. A wet, raining forenoon. Went to Loomis's
house, and spent several hours among my damaged books. Alas !
alas !
Coming back, I heard a heavy regular tramp behind me, and
supposed it must be a company of six or eight soldiers going to
relieve guard. Without looking round, I walked as close as I
could to the houses, to let them pass. At last finding no one
passed, I looked round, and behold, it was a Chinaman with shoes
for rainy weather. These shoes are made like other Chinese
shoes, with the addition of a great many heavy iron nails in the
sole; the heads are of a conical shapo, and about half an inch
thick.
Monday, April 7(h. After breakfast, I started with Mr. Loomis
for a walk. Tinghai is built in a valley. We went through the
city, and out at the north gate, and then np through the largest
valley. What a delightful walk it was ! I do not think 1 have
had one so pleasant in China. There were farm-houses and
paddy-fields, and clover-patches, with red yellow flowers ; and
some of the farmers were ploughing the clover in for manure.
There were patches of barley, and cabbages nni to seed. I won-
der what they do with so many cabbage seeds? They make oil
for cooking and lamps. There were some beautifully built tombs,
with cedars planted round them. There were dandelions, and a
kind of wild honeysuckle, violets, and some flowers a little like
larkspurs. Then there was a beautiful little stream bubbling and
murmuring over the stones ; and altogether I have seen nothing
so much like home since I left the United States. The top of the
hills where we went, was about three miles from Tinghai, and
though the sun was warm, the north wind kept us pleasantly
cool. What a splendid climate is this. It is April now, and the
people in Macao are wearing white jackets, while here we have
all our winter clothing on yet.
JOURNAL CHUSAN. 297
There was a large valley surrounded on all sides by hills, with
many houses, and highly cultivated. As we did not wish to go
farther, we turned into a stone hut thatched with straw, and asked
for a bowl of water, which was cheerfully given. I tried my Chi-
nese on the man, and could get along after a fashion.
Tuesday, April 8th. After breakfast Looniis and I started for a
walk. Went out of the east gate, and up the valley that runs
eastward from Tinghai. The valley is very rich, and highly cul-
tivated. They are just now letting the water on for a crop of rice,
and we saw the first bed in which the rice is sown, previous to
transplanting. Several fields of barley, all planted in bunches,
and some nearly ready for reaping ; a patch of peas in blossom,
numerous beds of stalk beans, fields of clover, butlalos and buf-
falo cows, and numerous farm-houses, rendered the walk very in-
teresting. From the main valley numerous lesser ones run in
among the hills on either side, affording a large extent of cultiva-
ble land ; and most of the lower hills were cultivated to the top,
while the larger hills are also studded over with cultivated spots,
very far up. This is certainly a very beautiful island. Much
more rice is produced than the inhabitants can use, and a great
part is consumed in making sam shoo, a highly intoxicating
liquor.
On our return we stopped at a large and neat private house, or
rather collection of houses, belonging to one person. On entering
the door, the females, who were sitting in one of tiie back rooms,
started up in some alarm, but as tiiey saw us not very ferocious,
they stood and looked. Presently the father of the household
came o\U, and invited us to enter the reception hall, which was
designated as the Hall of Patience and Benevolence. He had tea
brought in, grown, as he said, on tlie island ; and I tried my Chi-
nese on him, but not very successfully. The old man was very
polite, but rather deaf, and did not understand me so well as his
son or grandson, who stood outside. After sitting awhile, 1 gave
him a copy of Ephesians and came away, much gratified with
our visit.
Packed up my books, or at least part of them, to take to Ningpo.
About two hundred volumes were in such a state that I must leave
them here for a while, and some fifty or more are about useless.
•' Three removes are as bad as a fire !"
Thursday, April 10th. Left Chusan at half-past nine, a. m.,
with fair tide but light wind. Chartered a native boat, and took
most of my goods and chattels, making twenty-one packages in
all; paid three dollars for tlie boat, which is about one-ihird of
what I should have had to pay in Macao. There were only a few
passengers, as I told the owner he must not crowd the boat.
Among the passengers were two inhabitants of the mainland
from near Cbinhai, a farmer, a Budhist priest, and a Fuhkeen
merchant, decidedly the most intelligent of the whole. There
were several others, but I saw none of thein except one, who came
298 MEMOIR OP WALTER M. LOWRIE.
to me once with his breath smelUng so strong of opium, that I
gave him a lecture thereujDon.
At first they showed vast curiosity about my clothes, shoes,
gloves. &c., which they examined most minutely. The Fuhkeen
merchant was more sensible. I could talk just a little with all of
them, and soon was on very good terms with them, and gave them
some tracts, but the Fuhkeen man was the only person who could
read understandingly. The priest said there was an old man at
his house who could read, and I gave him one for him. Our
course lay along the southern shore of Kentong, and about two
o'clock we entered the Ningpo river. A good many junks were
lying off Chinhai, a walled city at tlie mouth of the river. Here
our passengers all left ; and as the tide turned against us, and the
wind was very light, we had to remain several hours. During the
night the tide changed, and we kept on. I slept until daylight,
Friday, April 11th, When I looked out, and found myself on
the eastern side of Ningpo. I soon found Mr. Way and Mr. Cul-
bertson, and in half an hour had my goods all ashore, without
taking them to the Custom-house.
Breakfast at eight o'clock. After prayers I soon found Dr.
McCartee, who is living in a monastery. Then took a walk
through the city, admired the straightness and width and com-
parative cleanness of the streets, and afterwards went to the Pa-
goda, or Tower of Ningpo, an immense tall tower, a hundred feet
or more in height. Vast numbers of swallows have built their
nests in holes in the walls. Going up to the top, I enjoyed a mag-
nificent view of the country around. Ningpo is in a vast plain, a
perfect level ; but high hills are in sight on all sides but one.
The plain is so level that the hills look quite near, but they are
really from fifteen to eighteen miles distant.
At six o'clock, p. M., took a walk with Way and Culbertson, and
their wives. There are but few houses in this part of the suburbs,
and we walked about perfectly unembarrassed with people. The
vegetation is very luxuriant here. Saw several tombs erected in
the time of the Ming Dynasty ; there was first a pair of stone rams ;
then of dogs ; then of horses saddled and bridled ; then of mojiks ;
and then of tombs. I have seen many of them at Shanghai.
Here endeth my first day in Ningpo. I am very much gratified
with all I have seen.
Saturday, April 12th. After breakfast, Way and Culbertson
and myself started for a walk round the city walls, commencing
at the north gate. The whole time occupied was one hour and
forty minutes ; and as the day was cold and we walked fast, we
reckoned the circuit of the walls to be six miles. The walls are
about fifteen feet high, with a parapet six feet higher. Within
the parapet, the top of the wall is wide enough for four or five to
walk abreast. The wall is flanked with stone on both sides, and
paved on the top ; the middle, I suppose, is filled with rubbish.
It is in a tolerably good state of preservation ; though in several
JOURNAL — NINGPO. 299
places the parapet has fallen, and in many places grass and bushes
are growmg among the stones. The city is tolerably well filled
with houses ; though near the western and northern walls, there
are many vacant places. The suburbs at the eastern and western
gates are both very closely built and populous. Between the rivers
and a deep canal, the city is nearly surrounded with water. There
are also two lakes and a canal within the city, which communi-
cate with that outside by two water gates, adjoining the south
and west gates.
In a hasty walk round the city, one cannot notice much. One
thing that particularly struck the eye was the mode of interment.
There are two in common practice. The first and most common
is to place the massive coffin on the surface of the ground, and
leave it there. Sometimes it is bound round with matting or
straw, and occasionally built up around with brick ; but commonly
the cofliin is simply laid on the ground. Sometimes you see only
one; sometimes a dozen; and occasionally, hundreds hung close
together, close by the houses both within and without the walls.
The other mode is to cover the body with a conical mound of
earth, and plant evergreens, commonly cedars, around it. There
is quite a forest of such plantations on the west of the city. 1 am
not sure whether the body is interred in these mounds, or whether
the bones are taken out of the exposed coffin after the flesh has
decayed, and then interred. At Shanghai there is the same mode
of laying the coff[ins on the ground and of erecting earthen mounds,
but 1 do not remember the evergreens.
g Came back to Dr. McCartee's establishment, which is just within
the northern gate. It is his prescribing day, and he had a great
crowd. I concluded to take a set of rooms, some four or five, which
the monks offered to let me have, and to put some furniture in for
me, for five dollars a month, with possession on Tuesday or Wed-
nesday. It will be a capital place to learn the language, which is
my object at present.
A cold, rainy afternoon and evening, and all glad to gather round
a charcoal fire.
April 14th, 1845. After a visit to the city, we sailed some dis-
tance up the north branch of the river, whose course is quite
crooked a short distance above the North Gate. At the distance
of twelve le,* we passed a large distillery, known by the usual
sign of a tall pole, with a small round bamboo sieve near the top,
and a small flag above it. Passing three le further, we went
ashore at a temple where the keeper received us full civilly, and
gave us tea to drink. The temple contained nothing of interest,
but we were amused in watching a boat as it passed over a sluice.
As the tide rises and falls several feet in the river, the small
streams and canals that empty into it would be nearly useless at
low water. To prevent this, they are all dammed up at the
* Three le are about one mile.
300 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
mouth, and thus the water is made to stand always at nearly the
same level, so that they are always useful for irrii^ation and navi-
gation. To enable boats to enter the river, and come back into
the canals, the dam is rounded off, and by means of two rude
capsterns and bamboo ropes, the boats are hauled up to the top
of the dam. It consists simply of mud, beaten smooth and hard,
and rendered slippery by pouring a little water over it. As soon as
the boats are once at the top, their own weight carries them down
the other side, and they enter the river like a ship launched from
the stocks. Each sluice is attended by two men and several boj^s,
and it requires but a minute or two to pass a boat in either direc-
tion. By these economical locks there is no loss of water, and
the wear of the fiat-bottomed boats is small. The toll for passing
these sluices varies from five to eight cents, according to the size
of the boat.
1.5th. The wheat and barley are now in the ear, and the heads
begin to grow heavy.
IGth. Crossed the ferry at the east gate, where a large number
of boats arc constantly plying. This place, at the junction of the
two rivers, is the most busy part of Ningpo. Went over to the
eastern suburb, which is large and populous, and a place of much
business, but not remarkable for cleanliness. After strolling
through several streets, came by the Bridge of Boats, to the Ling
Keaou Nuw, or "Gate of the Etherial Bridge." The bridge,
which has not much that is very etherial about it, consists of a
flooring laid over a number of large boats, which are anchored in
the stream, with sufficient space for small boats to pass between^
Numerous stalls of what might be called " notions," occupy either
side of the bridge, and a great crowd is constantly passing and
repassing. There is no toll on this bridge.
The street from the Ling Keaou Nuw is almost entirely occupied
by furniture shops, some of which present a very showy appear-
ance. The bedsteads, with their carved, painted, and gilded
frames, and gay decorations, are the most remarkable.
Continuing our walk through several streets, we were objects
of general curiosity. A foreigner is still " a sight worth seeing"
in Ningpo, and men and boys both cry out as we pass, " Hung
7na nyia I hung ma nyin f di term which literally means "red-
haired men," but is applied without exception to all foreigners. Oc-
casionally, a mischievous boy cries out, " Wa'ilo .'" a term derived
from foreigners, and equivalent to "be oir!" but it often seems to
be done more with the intention of exciting our attention than of
insulting us. From hearing the soldiers and sailors calling to
their companions, "I say — look here," &c., the natives have got
the idea that " I say" is equivalent to a proper name, and one is
often saluted with it in passing through the streets.
17th. In conversation with an old gentleman who is himself a
sewtsai^ a literary degree equivalent to our Bachelor of Arts, he
inlormed me that there are about four hundred sevvtsai in the city.
JOURNAL — NINGPO. 301
and nearly a thousand in this foo, or department, wbich contains
six hecn, or districts. He estimates the population of Ningpo at
forty myriads, or four hundred thousand, a large estimate prob-
ably. He knew something of other nations ; — a rare acquirement
even among the most educated of the Chinese, and seemed very
proud of displaying his geograp]iic learning.
Afterwards went with Dr. M- Cartee to see the garden of Mr.
Kiang, a salt merchant, supposed to be the richest man in Ningpo.
It is visited by nearly every foreigner who comes here, and is very
beautiful, though not large. Artificial rock-work, caverns, pools
of water, summer-houses, green arbors, and sweet liowers, make
it a very pleasant place. The old gentleman was very polite, and
according to custom, gave us tea to drink, which, not accord-
ing to custom, was really excellent. The old man is hard of
hearing, and said little ; but one of his sons talked a great deal
about America and broadcloth. Nothing seems to take the fancy
of the Chinese so much as the cloth we wear, whether woollen,
linen, or cotton, and it is usually one of the first topics on which
they begin to ask questions.
18th. Took up my quarters at the Yu shing kwan monastery,
belonging to the Taou sect, which is situated just within the
north gate of the city. There are, in all, five monks in the estab-
lishment. As soon as my baggage was brought in, the old abbot
sent in a wooden waiter with a pile of sponge cakes, and four
cups of tea, together with a red card, on the top of which was
written, " Congratulations," and beneath, " The resident supporter
of the Yu shing kwan monastery. Hwang che hwuy bows his
head and worships." A small present was sent back in return.
In the morning, had an opportunity of seeing a " small foot"
uncovered. One of the female patients had some disease, which
made it necessary to take the bandages off the foot, a thing they
are commonly nnwilhng to do before strangers. The sight was
by no means pleasant. All the toes except the largest were turned
under the sole of the foot; the instep was greatly elevated, and
the hollow between the heel and the ball of the foot much deeper
tlian in the natural state. All the Avomen here, excepting the
nuns, have their feet thus unnaturally compressed, and in conse-
quence, you never see a woman able to walk with even tolerable
ease and grace. They all go hobbling about like cripples, and
frequently have to depend upon an umbrella, or the shoulder of a
female attendant whose feet are not quite so cruelly hampered as
their own, to support their steps.
For several days past, green peas in abundance have been sold
in tlie markets.
19th. In our walk after breakfast, we found some soldiers prac-
tising musketr}^ under the direction of their otftcers. 1'hey were
merely firing blank cartridges, and the sole object seemed to be to
accustom them to load swiftly and fire with deliberation. Nearly
every man shut his eyes, and turned away his head when he
302 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
pulled the trigger. The guns were all matchlocks of the rudest
construction, and the touch-hole was large enough to admit a ten-
penny-nail, consequently nearly a third of the ciiarge escaped at
the wrong end. Each man, after firing, lifted up his right foot,
made a bow to the officer commanding, and fell back ; but the
whole exhibition was poorly calculated to inspire one with respect
for their prowess or efficiency.
Afterwards went to the Hwuy-Hwuy Tang, or Mohammedan
Mosque.- The keepers of the building were from Shantung; and
one old woman spoke Mandarin beautifully. (The purest Man-
darine dialect is spoken in Shantung.) The mosque is a small
building, with many Arabic inscriptions, and we were informed
that there are some five hundred Mohammedans in Ningpo. They
have a larger mosque, and more numerous population in Hang-
chou, the capital of this province. There was formerly a Jewish
synagogue in Ningpo, as well as one in Hangchou, but no traces
of them are now discoverable, and the only Jews known to exist
in China, are in Kaifung foo, the capital of Honan.
Visited also a small flower-garden, but saw little worthy of no-
tice. There were some dwarf trees, and curiously-twisted and
gnarled shrubs, which the Chinese take great delight in cultivat-
ing. By tying cords to the branches, so as to make them grow
crookedly, and other devices, they succeed in giving to young and
small trees the appearance of great age.
20th. Preached this morning to the largest congregation of for-
eigners that has yet met in Ningpo, sixteen persons in all.
21st. Dr. McCartee having occasion to go to Chusan to-day, I
am left alone in the monastery ; but a smattering of Mandarin,
of which the people all understand a little, enables me to get
along without difficulty. Dr. McCartee has three boys under his
care, the two elder of whom are very interesting and affijctionate ;
and his teacher is a kind-hearted, excellent man, " almost persua-
ded to be a Christian." We have prayers morning and evening
in Chinese, when the teacher reads and explains a chapter in
Chinese, and repeats or reads a prayer ; after which we have a
prayer in English. A-chang, the second boy, was greatly de-
lighted with my barometer, and repeated several times, " Heaou
tell fung ! heaou teh yu !" " It understands the wind ! It under-
stands the rain !" and finally, he declared there was nothing so
admirable in all Ningpo.
Shortly after Dr. McCartee started, a man came in great haste
to have him go and see a man who had swallowed opium, a com-
mon mode of committing suicide. Dr. Macgowan happened to
be here, and went immediately, but the man was dead before he
could see him.
22d. Teaching the boys English, who, in return, make capital
teachers in Chinese.
A man came for medicine to cure opium smoking, He had no
money to buy more opium, and the desire for it was so strong, as
JOURNAL^ — NINGPO. 303
to be a torment. When told that 1 could do nothing for him, not
being a physician, he asked witli some asperity, "Then what did
you come here for, since you are not a merchant?" My knowl-
edge of the language was scarcely sufficient to answer his ques-
tion satisfactorily.
23d. Arranging my rooms, and putting my clock up. Got a
servant to-day, who seems to be a very simple-hearted, good sort
of a fellow, and who looked with unbounded admiration at the
clock. Seeing one of the monks, he called out to him, " Here is
a clock !" It has been a great object of admiration all day.
25th. Along with Dr. McCartee, and Messrs. Way and Cul-
bertson, went out several miles into the country to see a patient of
the Doctor's, who is confined with a broken leg. The country is
intersected with innumerable canals, which supply the place of
high roads in other countries. Much ground is also covered with
tombs, so that the common saying, that the Chinese use no ground
for tombs which can be cultivated, is incorrect. In the south,
where barren hills abound, and only the valleys are fit for culti-
vation, the remark is true ; but aljout Shanghai, Chusan, and
Ningpo, it is not.
The canals are full of fish : to catch them, bamboo fences are
staked across them in numerous places, with only an opening for
boats. The opening itself is staked with flexible reeds, which al-
low the water to pass through, and boats to pass over, but effectu-
ally prevent the fish. Connrionly, the fences are formed into a
kind of labyrinth, so that when the fish are driven to them, they
enter a trap, from which it is difficult to escape, and they are then
scooped up with a small hand-net. The appearance of the coun-
try is very beautiful ; crops of w^heat and barley nearly ready for
the reaper, patches of clover, beds of rice for transplanting, young
fields of reeds for mats, (a very important part of the trade of
Ningpo,) water-wheels, worked by buffiiloes or men, the latter
sort somewhat on the principle of the tread-mill, a few water buf-
faloes and oxen, quiet farm-houses and numerous villages, with
some old trees, form a picture of great beauty. Oh ! that this
were indeed Immanuel's land ! that those whom we meet were
partakers of the same faith and hope with us ! " How long, O
Lord ! Return and visit these long desolations !"
30th. Invited to a Chinese dinner. The dishes were brought in
bowls, everything being cut up, and ready for use. Each guest
was provided with a small wine-cup, a spoon, and a pair of chop-
sticks. The guests were Dr. McCartee and his teacher, the old
abbot and one of the monks from the monastery, and myself
The dishes were : — stewed chicken, cold goose, duck and bamboo-
sprouts, pork, fish, cherries, water-chestnuts, pea-nuts, soup, beche
de-mer, ginger, preserved eggs, spinnage, and rice and tea to close
with ; besides, hot spirits distilled from rice. It was my first effort
WMth chop-sticks, which are awkward enough at first, especially
when you try to take up a hard-boiled egg. Several of the dishes
304 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
were very palatable, but one or two of the customs were not par-
ticularly pleasant, e. g., the old abbot, after putting his chop-sticks
several times into his mouth, picked out a tempting piece of goose,
and offered it to me with the same sticks. I begged to be excused,
though it is a mark of polite attention to make such an offer ; also
a wet cloth was handed round after dinner to wipe the fingers and
mouth, the same cloth for all.
May 2d, 1815. Observed some strawberries quite ripe. In size,
shape, and color, and in the leaf, they are much like ours ; but
they are quite tasteless, and so little used by the Chinese, that
most of them think them poisonous. 1 have, however, eaten
some, and seen others do the same, without any unpleasant effects.
While gathering them, a man came along, who accosted me, and
begged for medicine to cure him of opium smoking. Notwith-
standing my telling him that I had none, he followed me all the
way to my lodgings, repeating his request.
May 3. In tlie afternoon a respectable and interesting-looking
Chinese came to the Yushing kwan temple to perform some cere-
monies on the sixth birth-day of his son. The little follow was
dressed in his best clothes, and seemed to enjoy the whole affair.
His fatlier had brought gilt paper, printed prayers, and a large
number of bowls full of various meats, rice, vegetables, nuts, cups
of wine, and the like, which were spread out before the idols.
The ceremonies were performed in the apartment of the Tow-moo,
or Bushel Mother, who has special charge of young people, both
before and after birtli. The old abbot clothed himself in a scarlet
robe, with a gilt image of a serpent fastened in his hair. One of the
monks wore a purple, and aiiother an ash-colored robe. A multi-
tude of prayers, seemingly little else than a round of repetitions,
were read by the abbot. Occasionally he chanted a little, when
the attendants joined in chorus, and every few minutes a deafen-
ing clamor of bells, cymbals, and hollow blocks of wood, was
raised. Genuflexions and prostrations innumerable accompanied
the whole ceremony. The most singular part was the passing of
a live cock through a barrel which had both ends knocked out.
This was done several times by two assistants, who shouted some
strange words at each repetition of the ceremony. The meaning,
as I was afterwards told, was something like this : Prayers had
been offsred to the idol that the child might escape certain dangers
through which he must pass; and each passing of the cock
through the barrel was intended to symbolize his passing safely
through one of these perils. It was a melancholy sight. In con-
clusion, some of the prayers were burnt, a cup of wine poured out
as a libation, and a grand chorus of bell, and gong, and drum,
and blocks, closed the scene.
May 8. Dr. McCartee was called this evening to see a young
man, who had poisoned himself, in the eastern suburbs, but he
was dead before his arrival. He was but seventeen years old
JOURNAL — NINGPO. 305
and having lost money by gambling-, put an end to his life by
taking arsenic.
May 12. Called with Dr. McCaitee to see a dropsical patient
in a very respectable family. He had been consulting some native
doctors, one of whom thought he had within him some clotted
horse blood, which had feet and could walk ; and the only way in
which the clot of blood could be killed, was by taking internally a
prescription so indecent that it cannot be published. This he had
done, but unsuccessfully. He had also, at the recommendation of
another physician, eaten a toad, but with equal want of success.
He was now so far gone that but little hope of his recovery re-
mained. After talking some time with his parents and brothers,
who were very agreeable people, and being peeped at by his sisters,
who were not allowed by Chinese etiquette to come into the same
room, we came away.
May 13. Engaged a teacher to-day. Hung seen sang. He is
forty-nine years old, has the degree of kung sang, or bachelor of
arts advanced, wears spectacles, being near-siglited, has already
gray and almost white hairs, and on the whole promises well,
though he is not as much of a talker as I could wish,
A young man from Shensi province, connected with the Taou-
tai's office, came to-day for medicine to cure him of opium smoking.
Speaking of the eflfects of smoking, he said it gave him pains in
the head, and made him stupid; but he could not do without it.
When he snioked, he was revived for a while, "just like winding
up a clock ;" but he soon ran down again, and was worse than
ever. He seemed intelligent, and received Christian books with
much politeness.
May 14. A w^et, rainy day. In the evening Dr. McCartee was
called in a great hurry to see a man who had poisoned himself by
taking opium. On going to the house, found the family in much
alarm. The man was in bed, looking very stupid, and his w^ife
attending him with some appearance of anxiety and care. He
had had a quarrel with his mother-in-law, and in revenge attempt-
ed to make away with himself by taking opium. There was,
however, some reason to suppose that it was partly a feint to
frighten the old woman, and after an emetic being given, we came
away. The Chinese have but little to deter them from the com-
mission of suicide, for they have very faint ideas of a future state, .
or of punishment beyond the grave.
May 17. A great Hwuy, or festival of Too-shin, all the gods,,-,
has been celebrated for the last day or two. Saw a part of the-
procession to-day, though the narrow crowded streets gave but a
poor opportunity of seeing the different parts. There were innu-
merable lanterns, three or four gaily ornamented dragons, a boat,
several chairs, idols, little boys carried on men's shouldei's, and '
various other sights. The most interesting were several gaily,
dressed girls, who seemed to be standing on almost nothing at all.
One girl standing on a chariot, carried a branch of a tree carelessr-
20
306 , MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
ly on her shoulder : on one of ihe twigs of the branch stood a little
girl, on one foot, with the other in the air. Another girl held up
in her hand a plate of cakes, and a smaller girl stood with one
foot on the cakes, and was thus borne along. Of course all this
was done by means of iron or brass supporters around their bodies.
The crowd of people was immense, and numerous policemen
seemed to be busy, or rather to make themselves busy, for I never
saw so large a crowd, and so little disorder.
It was a curious sight to look over the crowd and see the forest
of pipe-stems. Nearly everybody carries a pipe with a stem from
two to four feet long, and when held up to keep them out of harm's
way, they looked like a forest of small sticks, or perhaps like a
cane-brake stripped of its leaves.
May 19. The ditch along the southern side of the monastery
being nearly dry, some boys made arrangements to catch the fish.
They dammed up a part of the ditch at a time, and having emp-
tied the water out of it, by groping among the stones and black
mud at the bottom, they procured quite a handsome mess of fish,
from three to seven inches long. There are numerous canals in
the city which abound with fish, as do the rivers and streams
without. Most of the canals in the city are navigable for small
boats, but so narrow, that two boats can pass only at certain
places. They connect with the moat and canals outside by two
water-gates, one of which is near the gate of the Etherial Bridge,
and the other near the west gate. In them the lower order of the
people wash all their dirty vessels, they also wash their clothes,
and the rice they eat, and they also wash their own bodies ; con-
sequently they are not always very clean, and must prove un-
wholesome in summer.
May 21. Having occasion to be out at a prayer-meeting until
after eight o'clock in the evening, we found the north gate closed
on our return. It is closed sooner than the other gates, being less
of a thoroughfare : they are commonly open till nine or ten o'clock.
A present of a hundred cash (about nine cents) to the gate-keeper,
opened it for us. A Chinaman gets it opened for sixty cash, but
we have to pay more. Sometimes the officers of the city seal the
gates at night, by pasting a strip of paper across them, and then it
is more difficult to get in or out.
May 27. It is amusing to observe the commotion excited by the
appearance of a foreigner in the retired parts of the city, where
few have yet wandered. Every one cries out, " Hung ma nying !
hung ma nying !" a red-haired man ! a red-haired man ! this
being the name for all foreigners. The women and children
scatter in all directions ; the men stare and gaze, or pass their
comments, as the fancy strikes them. It is melancholy to witness
the fear of foreigners that still exists, especially on the part of the
women and children. Some of the men look as if they would be
glad to hide, and if you look at them, seem ready to sink into the
ground. Commonly, however, this fear is giving way to curiosity ;
JOURNAL AT NINGPO. 307
and nothing' is more common than for those who see the stranger
to beckon to the women to come and have a look also. One little
boy, in his haste to do this, dropped his basket, overturned his
playfellow, and running to the door, clapped his hands and called
out, " Here's a red-haired man ! come ! quick, quick, quick !" The
titles they give, and the remarks they make, are sometimes amus-
ing, and sometimes provoking. " Mantele !" for mandarin. " Wailo
fuhke, wailo !" Be off with you ! " Lailo !" Come here. " Hung
ma nying !" are the common terms; and sometimes " Pah kwei,"
and " Kwei isz/hohite devil, and deviVs child ! Some k\v, on
the other hand, are polite enough to say, " Hungma seen saung,"
foreign teacher ; and the beggars say, " Hungma laou yay," for-
eign esquire.
The sun is sometimes called Kin woo, or "golden crow," from
its spots, which are thought to be crows ; and the moon is called
the Yuh too, or "jewelled hare," because they say a hare is distinct-
ly seen in it. Hence, in poetical style, the setting of the sun and
rising of the moon is expressed by " The golden crow sank in the
west, and the jewelled hare arose in the east."
May 28. The Chinese are fond of high-sounding and poetical
names for everything, and this fancy displays itself on the bridges,
as well as elsewhere. A little stone bridge over a ditch by the Yu
shing kwan monastery, is dignified with the title, " Bridge of Lon-
gevity and Happiness." and one at the west water-gate is call " the
Bridge of Extended Virtue." At Shanghai, I saw a bridge over a
canal with the inscription, Paou sheukeaou, "The excellent jewel
of a bridge !"
May 29. Went out with Dr. McCartee several miles into the
country, by water of course. Stopped at a small village, and
went into a temple, when a crowd soon came round us, and notice
being given that Dr. McCartee would prescribe for the sick gratu-
itously, a number of patients applied for medicine and advice.
After this Dr. McCartee and his teacher both spoke to the people
on religion, and were listened to with good attention. Tracts
were then given to the eager crowd, and we took our departure,
much gratified with our visit and the behavior of the people.
Returning, saw a large house in the western suburb on fire. It
seemed to be the family mansion of some wealthy person ; but the
Chinese have little skill in putting out fires, and the owners were
removing their furniture, and leaving the house to its fate. The
Cheheen (mayor of the city) and several other military and civil
officers, were speedily on the ground with their retainers. Being
tired and hungry, we did not stop to see the end, but were inform-
ed that by breaking down parts of the adjoining houses, the flames
were prevented from spreading.
May 30. Spent part of the day in visiting acquaintances among
the Chinese, then went to the house of a Mr. Lin, to see his
garden, which is spoken of as very fine ; but were rather disap-
pointed, as it had nothing remarkable in it. While in the garden
308 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Mr. Lin came out to see us, and politely took us over his house,
which is large, airy, and well furnished. He had some six or
eight large clocks of European manufacture, but all out of order,
with numerous beautiful scrolls of writing and painting. His
father left him a fortune of some three hundred thousand taels,
(over four hundred thousand dollars,) but his extravagance has
diminished it to one hundred thousand. He smokes opium freely,
and looks sallow and thin. Some friends were with him at the
time, and he had an opium pipe, and lamp burning in the room to
which he led us. This opium is the curse of China. It is drain-
ing out their money from the land, sucking the heart's blood of
their industry, and destroying the constitutions and the lives of
their people.
May 31. A good deal of commotion in the city to-day, on ac-
count of the boldness of a gang of robbers last night. They
attacked the house next door to Mr. Lin's, which we visited yes-
terday, severely wounded some of the inmates, and carried off
much property. Some of the mayor's police went to disperse them,
but the robbers attacked and drove them o(f, and escaped with
their booty. This is the most daring outrage that has occurred
for some time. Robberies out of the city are not uncommon, but
within the walls, such daring attacks have seldom been attempted.
June 3, 1845. On Saturday, May 31st, Dr. McCartee was
called to see a woman in the country, who had poisoned herself
by taking opium, but she was dead before he arrived. It seems
she was the concubine, or second wife, and had a quarrel with
the first wife, which led to her destroying herself This evening,
another case of poisoning occurred but a few doors from our resi-
dence. In this case he was in time, and some sulphate of zinc soon
relieved the man's stomach. The cause was a quarrel with some
of the neighbors.
Yesterday and to-day have been wet and cold. Thermometer
down to 64 deg., which is eighteen degrees lower than it was the
day before.
June 5. Reading in the Kea Paou, or " Family Jewels," I came
across the following sentences, which are rather remarkable. "If
your parents treat you with unkindness, or even do what is wrong,
you must still, with the utmost quietness, submit. And if they
will not hear your attempts to correct their errors, you must not
become angry, and scold them ; but bear it in silence. For, re-
member, that below the skies, there is not such a thing as a father
or mother that does wrong. Your father is heaven, and your
VTiother is earth, and where is the man that dares to contend with
heaven and earth? Is it right to do so? Therefore, it was well
said, by an ancient sage, 'Although a father should ill-treat his
son, yet must not the son cease his filial obedience.' " The fol-
lowing sentence is equally remarkable : " Let not your love for
your wife and children prevent your paying all due respect to your
parents. Should your wife and children die, you may yet procure
JOURNAL AT NINGPO. 309
Others ; but if your father and mother depart, whence will you re-
place them ?" Kea Paou, vol. i. p. 6. The sentiment of this last
line must remind (he student of history, of the saying ascribed to
a Persian lady, whose whole family had been condemned to death.
The monarch, permitting her to save the life of any one she chose,
she selected a brother. On being asked why she had not rather
chose to save one of her children, she replied, "I may have other
children, but another brother I cannot have."
To-day being the first of the Chinese month, several people
have come to worship at the temple. Several travelling monks
assist at the devotions. Among the worshippers were some re-
spectably dressed females, one of whom took her little child, that
knew not its risrht hand from its left, and making it kneel before
the idol, taught it to lift its hands and worship.
June 7. Another case of opium poisoning to-day. It was a
young man who could not collect money to pay his debts on the
fifth of the month, when, according to custom here, all debts must
be settled. The application for assistance was too late, as he was
dying when Dr. McCartee reached the house.
June 16. A visit from sundry official persons, and some schol-
ars, to-day. They were civil, very inquisitive, and not at all
backward in asking for anything they took a fancy to. One of
them requested a few sheets of writing paper, as a curiosity, and
when I took out half a quire, meaning to give him a sheet or two,
he held out both hands, and took all, exclaiming, "Oh, thank you,
thank you !" We gave them tracts, several of which were printed
on our own press, with the Parisian type. They expressed much
pleasure at the beauty and clearness of the type, as I have more
than once or twice heard scholars do, when they opened one of
our tracts.
June 18. An animated discussion with my teacher to-day on
idolatry. He is the most zealous defender of their idolatrous rites
that I have ever met among the Chinese, and does not, as most
of them do, assent to everything that we say on the subject. Ac-
cording to what he says, idols were not formerly worshipped in
China, nor are they now, by the literati, who pay their adoration
only to the souls of the deified persons, and not to the images.
When pressed in argument, he admitted that it was of no use,
except to show reverential feeling, for the souls of the idols being
in heaven, could not hear or enjoy the worship paid to them. At
last he confessed that it was only " long-established custom." I
rejoiced to be able to tell him distinctly, that it was only by re-
nouncing all idols, believing on Christ, and worshipping him, that
any man could be saved.
It is curious to see how they use the same arguments in favor
of their worship, which the Roman Catholics urge for the adora-
tion of the saints. Among other things, he said that it was better
to worship heroes, and such like, because God is too great to be
troubled with our prayers, and therefore, we must approach him
310
MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
by means of persons greater than ourselves. When asked if there
were any good and sinless men on earth, he replied with empha-
sis, " There are few indeed !" When asked, " Did you ever see
one?" lie replied, "TVeve/-." At this point he seemed to feel un-
comfortable, and admitted that man's natural disposition is not
good, though he was hardly willing to say this, without some
qualification.
• June 19. Another long conversation wilh my teacher, on reli-
gion, in which I could not but admire his independence. He freely
admitted the difference between Christianity and the religion of
China; but unlike most Chinese teachers, he would not compli-
ment me, by saying that ours was the best. He listened with in-
terest, while I spoke of the way of salvation, through the suffer-
ings and death of Christ. Oh, that he were himself a Christian !
He is acute to detect the inconsistencies of professed Christians,
and asked some questions to-day, respecting some, which were
hard to answer.
The Sz' family are in a good deal of trouble, from the youngest
brother having borrowed money, which he is now unable to repay.
The creditor insists on immediate payment, and the young man,
in despair, attempted to kill himself to-day, by swallowing opium.
The timely application of remedies saved him ; but the whole
family are in great distress. By Chinese law, all the brothers are
responsible for each other, and for the father's debts ; but the father
is not responsible for the debts of his grown-up sons.
June 21. Went into the main building of the temple to-night,
and found all the monks busy at their devotions. Some person
was making an ofiering, and his gifts were spread out in order be-
fore the idol. Fourteen candles were burning. The old abbot
was beating the drum, and twelve monks, more than half of
whom were visitors, were chanting from the Shangteking^ or
Classic of the Supreme Ruler. Each wore a long yellow, or
orange colored robe, fringed with black, and read from a copy of
the book beautifully written with red ink. They chanted, beat
their bells and blocks of wood, knelt, and rose again, and bowed
their heads. Oh, how melancholy to see it ! Some of the monks
were old and gray-headed. One was young. Avith the ruddiness
of boyhood still on his cheeks. I thought of the command, " Thou
shalt not bow down unto them — " and my heart sank within me,
as the question rose, "How long, oh Lord, how long? — " Will
this kind go out except by prayer and fasting?
June 26. Several conversations with my teacher, of late, on re-
ligion, which seem to have made some impression on him. He
was much struck with the idea of missionaries coming here, not to
make money, but simply to teach religion, and after a pause, said
seriously, " It requires great faith to do all this. I do not think our
Chinese would do it." Giving him an account of my being ship-
wrecked some years ago, he was much interested, and remarked,
" Truly, you would not have escaped, if Jesus had not preserved you."
JOURNAL AT NINGPO. 311
July 1. The warmest day we have yet had. Thermom-
eter at 91° for a while, and now, at nine o'clock, p. m., at 88°.
Little wind, and weather very damp. It is what the Chinese call
the wang may teen, or yellow plum season, because the plums
are then ripe, when the atmospliere is so overloaded with mois-
ture, that even when the sun is shining-, the stone and wooden
floors are as damp as if they had but lately been scrubbed, and
had not time to dry.
July 3. The first sentence of the San trz king, the first book
read by children in the schools, asserts that " man's disposition,
originally good, becomes depraved by habit." The following sen-
tence, however, from the Kea Paou, or Family Jewels, asserts a
dilferent doctrine. " In all the world where is there ever a good
man born ? All, by education alone, become perfect. Where is
there ever a bad man born ? All from want of education become
bad. The gem imcut is but a useless gem. To what purpose
can it be applied ? The field unwatered and untilled, is but a
weedy waste. How can it produce abundant and mature har-
vests ?" Vol. I.
July 6th, Sabbath. Greatly disturbed in our morning worship,
by a number of Chinese carrying alum, the property of a Chris-
tian merchant, out of a neighboring store-room to load a ship, the
property of a Christian owner. Verily, there is but little fear of
God in the eyes of many who do business in this heathen land.
Alas ! for our work among this people, who know not how to dis-
tinguish among the professed and tlie real followers of Christ.
Very rainy, damp weather for some days, and so cold, notwith-
standing the heat a week ago, as to render thick clothes and
Avoollen stockings comfortable. But it is the last, probably, of the
cold weather for a while.
July 10. Warm weather now.
July 15. A visit from some inferior officer to-day, who had
nothing to distinguish him save a beautiful silk dress, and long
nails. The nail of one of his thumbs was more than two inches
long, and two of the fingers on the same hand, had nails nearly
as long.
July 19. Being the 15th of the Chinese month, there w'as a
great crowd of men and women in the temple, and the house was
filled with the smoke of the burning incense.
July 24. Had a visit to-day from a Mr. Lefevre, a French Ro-
man Catliolic missionary, who has spent five years in Keangse,
one in Nankin, and three in Macao. He seems to be about fifty-
five years old, and is now on his way to Tartary, to take charge
of their theological school at Siwan. He speaks Chinese, the
court dialect, fluently, and tolerably well, but with rather a French
accent. As he knew no English, and I but little French, we talked
together in Chinese. He goes first to Shanghai, there changes
his garments and puts on a queue, with Chinese spectacles, to con-
ceal his eyes. From Shangliai he goes by the grand canal, and
312 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
expresses no fear of being detected on the way. Thoug-h he
speaks fluently, he knows but little of the written language, not
being able to write so common a character as Kiing, (noble.)
whicb he has occasion to use every day.
He speaks in the highest terms of Mr. Ramaux, Roman Catho-
lic bisiiop of Keangse, and says he speaks Chinese better than even
his own language. (I have since heard that Mr. Ramaux was
lately drowned in Macao. From some of his letters, I had formed
a good opinion of him.) The Roman Catholics in China call their
priests Shin foo^ spiritual fathers, and the bishops Choo Keaou,
lords of the religion.
July 25. Went into the temple with a bundle of thirty or forty
gospels and tracts in my arm, and found many worshippers.
Presently some came and asked what books I had. On giving
one away, there was instantly a crowd of eager applicants, and
in a few minutes all were disposed of A hundred more would
have been taken, if I had thought fit to give them ; but it seemed
better to stop while they were eager for more, than to give them
to satiety.
July 28. This is the birthday of the god of thunder, though,
as my teacher laughing said, " No one knows how old he is." A
crowd of men and women were in the temple. My teacher says,
" Most of the worshippers are women, who greatly fear the thun-
der, though there are some men. The women like these worship-
ping days, because it gives them an opportunity to see, and to be
seen in their fine clothes ; and most of the men who come, come
to amuse themselves, and look at the women." Among the crowd
of the common folks, there were many men and women in silks
and embroideries. Stalls were at every corner, where men were
selling candles, incense sticks, and paper for offerings. The tem-
ple was full of smoke ; and the crowd, together with the smoke
and the burning paper, renders the place almost insupportably hot.
I took some forty or fifty tracts, but the crowd was so great, and
the eagerness to get them so excessive, that there was little satis-
faction in distributing them.
In the Kea Paoii,, vol. i., line 562, is this sentence. "Ancient
men have well said, ' A relation afar off is not so good as a neigh-
bor that is near.'" Almost word for word with Prov. xxvii. 10.
"Better is a neighbor that is near, than a brother afar off."
My teacher was greatly shocked to-day, when I said that " Abra-
ham was the friend of God." " How can it be ?" he exclaimed ;
" how can a man be the friend of God ; for a friend implies equal-
ity. Such a thing ought not to be said." These poor heathen
have little idea of the exceeding grace and condescension of God.
The other day, talking with him, he advanced the sentiment that
the affairs of the world to come, being beyond our personal obser-
vation, are of no importance to us ; that if we attend to our own
business in this life, the future may be safely left to take care of
itself In confirmation of his opinion that the future world is en-
LETTERS. 313
tirely beyond our knowledge- and concern, he quoted the saymg-
of Confucius, " Not knowing even life, how can we know death ?"
How truly it was said of Christ, " He hath brought life and im-
mortality to light through the Gospel;" for they were not known
before, and are not known where the Gospel is not heard.
Ningpo, April 30th, 1845.
Mrs. C. M. Hepburn—
.... I have little sympathy for those who dehght to say that
our blessed Saviour never smiled, for when he " rejoiced in spirit,"
and when he heard the little children cry, Hosanna ! it seems to
me as if a smile, strangely and yet sweetly blending the divine
and human, must have played upon those features. How pleas-
ant, more than "pleasant," to see those features, once marked
with the impress of pain and sutfering and sorrow ! They are
not so marked now, for a glory covers them, such as the disciples
saw when they were with him in the holy mount, and that glory
I trust we shall ere long see.
My previous letter will have informed you of my arrival at Chu-
san, April 2. I stayed there a week, enjoying greatly the scenery
and appearance of the place. It quite surpassed my expectations,
and is vastly more beautiful than anything I have yet seen in
China, always excepting Chang-Chow and the country around.
You have nothing at Amoy or Kulangsu equal to Chusan.
There are some pious soldiers at Chusan, and, among others,
I was surprised to see Corporal R , who used to be such a con-
stant visitor of yours at Amoy. He asked very earnestly about
you all. They all seem very glad of Loomis's going there, and
he now preaches in the chapel there every Sabbath. I left Chu-
san on the 10th of April, and go there the next day. Stayed a week
with Br. Way, and then came over to the Yu-Shing-Kwan mon-
astery, which is just within the north gate of the city. Dr.
McCartee has been here for some three or four months, and I got
a suite of rooms just like his, on the same terms.
This is a very quiet part of the cit}^, as there are few houses
near ; the mass of the population lies off in other parts of the city.
I calculate the inhabitants at two hundred and fifty thousand, in-
cluding the suburbs at the east and west gates, which are very
extensive and populous. ...
We propose observing next Friday as a day of fasting and
prayer, both for the mission, and as preparatory to the Lord's Sup-
per, which I am to administer on the Sabbath following. Miss
Aldersey has a fine girl's school, numbering fifteen pupils, and
sustains herself well. I hope for much good from the organization
of a church in tiiese extreme ends of the earth. I trust that ere
long we may admit some of the inhabitants of this place into our
fellowship. . . .
May 1st. " The laughing month of May ;" though we might al-
314 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
most apply to it the term given to the following' month, " The rose
encumbered June."
One of the monks brought me a bouquet of roses to-day, which
I have arranged in a tumbler beneath my looking-glass. 1 have
been busy fitting up my rooms to-day, and have everything now
arranged much to my mind.
.... I hope we are all settled now, and will not have to move
about any more, or make any other changes. I would like to see
you all ; but when shall it be '? As my sister E. says in her last let-
ter to me, " I am prepared to say, I hope you will not leave your field
of labor, even to come and see us." I am sure I am so glad to be
at my long-desired haven, tliat it would require no slight induce-
ment for ine to leave it. How nervous I used to feel sometimes,
on my last trip, for fear I siiould not get up after all. By what
strange ways we are led along, and sometimes hard ones to travel.
"Oh there are some rough ways to heaven." "In the world ye
shall have tribulation." So our blessed Lord himself said.
Friday, May 2d. We have been observing this as a day of fast-
ing and prayer for the mission, and also as preparatory to the
Lord's Supper. We met at 10 o'clock — only ourselves — six in all.
Bro. Culbertson conducted the services, and made some very good
remarks on the duties before us, and the disposition we should
have. I read a long letter which 1 have just received from my
father, in which he gives his views on several points in relation to
the missionary work in China. I wisli you were nearer, 1 would
lend it to you. We all led in prayer. In the afternoon we had
another meeting at four o'clock, which I conducted ; subject of my
remarks, 1 Cor. xi. 23 ; the administration of the Lord's Supper.
What a beautiful and forcible passage it is. The Lord's Supper
was instituted " the same night in which he was betrayed." Oh
what a night was that ! It was the crisis in the world's history.
Had our Saviour then drawn back, had the cup passed by him,
where had we been? Earth never saw a night like that. It was
on that night tliat Satan's malice and man's wickedness rose to
their highest point; and on that night the love of Christ was spe-
cially shown in the appointment of this solemn and tender ordi-
nance. How the love of God in Christ stands in shining contrast
with the wickedness of man and Satan ! And what a beautiful
sentence that is : " Ye do show the Lord's death till he come."
He will come again " in the clouds of heaven." Yea, he has told
us, he will " come quickly." It will be " with power and great
glory." "We who are alive and remain, shall be caught up with
the risen saints to meet the Lord in the air." Now we are expect-
ing it. " We love his appearing," is the characteristic of Christians.
" Let the vain world pronounce it shame !
With joy wo tell the scoffinjr age,
He that was dead hath left the tomb.
He hves above, their utmost rage,
And we are waiting till he come."
LETTERS. 315
Herein is a beautiful feature of this ordinance. It was instituted
in the time of Christ's degradation and sorrow, as a memorial of
the same ; but it is to be observed until tbe time when be comes
in power and glory and joy. Every time we observe it we are
carried back to tbe scene of his sorrow, and pointed forward to the
time of bis and our joy, when it sball be said to us, "Enter ye
into the joy of the Lord." Oh that wben the bridegroom cometh,
we may be ready to enter in before tbe door is shut.
Our servants are greatly at a loss to find we have eaten so little
to-day. We tried to explain it, but they could not comprehend
why it was. I have a very simple-hearted servant, and as soon as
I came back from the morning service he said, " Mr. Lowrie, don't
you want something to eat?"
May 3. I have been witnessing an idolatrous ceremony in
another part of tbe monastery where I live, which has made my
heart sick. The old gray-headed Taou priest and three of the
monks were reciting prayers, beating gongs, cymbals, and tbe like,
and bowing before their idols. A man had come to offer thanks
on the birth-day of his son, and the little boy, six years old, sat
and watched the whole proceeding. Who made me to differ ?
Wliy have I such glorious hopes? What have I done to deserve
them? What am I now doing for him who died for me, and
called me into the ministry ?
It is a rainy afternoon. The sky is all of one dull, sombre hue ;
the rain comes gently yet quickly down A light wind blows the
damp air into my apartments, and some noisy birds are chattering
imder the Kwai hwa trees in the court. I should like to have a
social chat with you at such a time as this ; but we are far away,
and, moreover, the day draws to a close, and after hearing the boys
say their lesson, I must finish my preparations for the services of
to-morrow. Oh, how pleasant to sit at the Lord's table rather than
at the table of devils ; to hope for God's favor rather than that of
idols which cannot save !
With my love to your husband, and to Lloyd and Brown,
I remain yours, ever affectionately,
W. M. Lowrie.
Ningpo, May 30th, 1845.
My Dear Father —
You will have heard, ere this reaches you, of the departure of
Messrs. Loomis, Culbertson and myself from Macao, and of our
safe arrival at Chusan about the first of April. Since that time,
all things have prospered with us, and we have found much cause
of encouragement in our field of labor.
On many accounts we thought it best, that part of the force for
this field should be stationed at Chusan. These reasons were, 1st.
The importance of the field itself, as the Chusan Archipelago is
large and populous, and at the present time, peculiarly open and
316 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
accessible. The inhabitants of Tinghai, the chief city in Chusan
Island, are commonly estimated at 30,000, thoug-h this is probably
a large estimate. Judging' from what I saw of Chiisan, I should
think the population of tlie whole island might be .50,000, and of
the whole archipelago perliaps 100,000. All this is only conjec-
ture, there may be more, but can hardly be less. This whole
population is at present without the Gospel, as there is no mission-
ary of any other Board there, nor did we know of any likely to go.
2d. As long as Chusan is retained by the English, it is a very
convenient station for attending to business matters, a considera-
tion of importance at the commencement of a mission like this.
3d. It is important as a healthy station during the warm months,
should any of us need a change at that time. 4th. If Chusan is
retained by the English, or if foreigners are allowed to remain
there after it is evacuated, it will continue to be an important sta-
tion, even more so than at present, for most of the trade of Ningpo
will then centre there, and it will be an excellent place to send off
our tracts by vessels that go and come. 5th. In case no one is al-
lowed to remain there after next January, no time will have been
lost ; for the dialect of Chusan so much resembles that of Ningpo,
that a person accustomed to the one can use the other without
difliculty.
Influenced by these reasons, Mr. and Mrs. lioomis have re-
mained in Chusan. They have a good and comfortable two-story
house in the city, for which they pay ten dollars monthly rent.
As Mr. Loomis will doubtless keep you informed of events there,
it is not needful for us to write much respecting that station.
Mr. and Mrs. Culbertson arrived here the first week in April,
and myself the week following. We found Dr. McCartee and Mr.
and Mrs. Way enjoying good health. Mr. Way occupies a com-
fortable house, or rather part of one, at one hundred dollars a
year rent. Mr. Culbertson has another, at one hundred and
twenty dollars a year. Dr. McCartee and myself occupy rooms
in a monastery of the Taou sect, within the city walls, for which
we pay one hundred and twenty dollars a year. The rents are
one-half less than in Shanghai, and would be still less here, were it
not for the example of the English, who pay much more than is
needed. Our rents are twice as much as the Chinese pay.
As these rents are moderate, and the houses are on the whole
very passable, it is a question whether it is worth while to build
or not. For the present we are not disposed to take any steps
towards erecting houses. After some more experience we shall
know better, whether it is best to build houses for ourselves. The
points which we shall need to be assured about are, 1st. Security
of title and good location. 2d. Expense of building. 3d. ElFect
of living in Chinese houses, which are not made as we would
make them, and which all need to be fitted up at some expense,
to make them correspond with our ideas of comfort, and even of
health. The houses of Mr. Way and Mr. Culbertson are each
LETTERS, 3ir
two stories high. Dr. McCartee and myself have rooms both on
the ground floor and up stairs, bilt at present we occupy only the
former. The general impression is that living on the first, floor is
not so healthy as living above, but Dr. McCartee and myself,
having a good dry pavement all around our house, and more con-
venient rooms, have preferred the lower story.
Dr. McCartee has informed you of his medical practice pre-
viously to the arrival of Mr. Culbertson and myself ; his proficiency
in the language is very creditable indeed.
We have decided on commencing a boys' school, as soon as
suitable buildings can be procured. There is no difficulty in
getting scholars, though there may be some in keeping them ; but
the whole expense must come on the mission, as there is no foreign
community here, who could contribute anything to their support.
Mr. Culbertson and myself give our attention chiefly to the
language. In regard to this, it may be stated positively that the
language both here and at Shanghai is not Mandarin. There
are many who understand it, but the large majority do not.
In Ningpo there are, properly speaking, two dialects, the " too
hwa," or local dialect, which all understand, and the " Ningpo
koon hwa," which is used by such as make any pretensions to
learning and refinement. In regard to the former, I am scarcely
entitled to express an opinion as yet ; but it seems to me, that
the body of it is Mandarin, a good deal corrupted, wliile most
of the connectives, particles, and little words are totally different.
E. g. for A. ^^ Kinteeiij say Khmni ; for OF) j^ Mingteen, say
Mingtseaou ; for ^r uh Woteih, say Allah ; &c.
The consequence is, that a person speaking pure Mandarin
can scarcely understand them at ah ; but they can gather his
meaning in part. Now, as our business is with the poor and
the ignorant, tbis is the dialect we must learn. This is, however,
very difficult to do. The colloquial is unwritten, i. e., for many
of the words there are no cliaracters. Moreover, a teacher of any
abilities is generally averse to teaching the colloquial, and they
are almost sure not to give it, unless you dig it out of them.
The common people, such as boatmen and servants, are therefore
our best resources in getting at the colloquial ; but with them we
are not sure that the phrases we get will not be low and vulgar.
The Ningpo Komi Wha, [kivan hwa,) is also a corrupt form
of the pure court dialect, but so different, that at first I found my
acquaintance with the latter of but little use. I can now, after
more than a month's study, understand my teacher tolerably
well, biU not so well as though he spoke the purer form. It was
this corrupt form of the court dialect which Mr. Milne had studied,
and that he had been studying for a year before he came, so that his
experience does not show what the true language of the place is.
I am half inclined to think it would have been more advan-
tageous if I had studied the Canton dialect ; for, though that
318 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
differs more from this dialect than the Mandarin does, yet I
should have learned so much more of it, hearing it spoken on all
sides, that the fluency in speaking would have compensated for a
considerable difference in other respects. But as I do not mean
to neglect my Mandarin, hoping I may yet live to enter Pekin,
it is best perhaps that it should be as it is.
It is necessary, or at least highly desirable, that we should
acquire the Ningpo Mandarin, as well as the Too liwa. This it
is not difficult to do ; for, while studying the latter, especially if
we study books at all, it is scarcely possible to avoid picking up
more or less of the former. I am not yet prepared to say that the
Ningpo Koon hwa does not bear the same relation to the Too
hwa, which the speech of a polished Englishman does to that of
a Yorkshireman, or even of the lower classes in London. If this
be the case, a question of some consequence will arise, How far
should we use the Too hwa in our prayers and solemn addresses?
For example, is it proper for a person addressing a congregation
of colored people in the United States, to pray in the broken
English which they use, when they can understand, though not
so well, the more chastened language we use in our addresses to
the Supreme Being?
I should be glad to know the custom and the views of the
English missionaries in the West Indies, or of some of the mis-
sionaries to the colored people in the south.
You may think this is a degrading comparison to the Chinese,
but the fact is that the educated classes look down with great
disdain on the common people; and much like the philosophers
of old, they can scarce conceive what the lower orders have to do
with learning and science, or what we want with the Too hwa.
Hence if our tracts are written in a plain and sijnple style,
the learned throw them away as trash ; but eagerly peruse them
if written in what they call the classic style, a style of all others
most unfit to teach clearly that Gospel which is preached unto
the poor. The misfortune is, that the poor, for whom our tracts
are most suitable, are seldom able to read. Readers will multiply,
doubtless, but slowly; and the impression formed more than a
year ago gains strength in my mind, that a change must come
over the Chinese literature like that which so totally transformed
the literature of Europe about the time of the reformation.
The difference between the written and the spoken language,
even in Mandarin where it is least, is a serious obstacle in our
way. As but little is known respecting this, I will add a few
sentences explaining it, though I am not sure that I can convey
a very clear idea of what it is.
The spoken language of China, (my remarks are about the
Mandarin, but they are substantially true of all the dialects,) is
like all other languages in the world, polysyllahic. I am aware
that some of our best scholars, with whom I would not pretend
to compare myself, assert the contrary ; but to me it seems as
SPOKEN AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE OF THE CHINESE. 3l9
plain as that two and two make four, that if words have any
meaning, the Chinese spoken language is not monosyllabic. For
example. If I want to say,
a thing, the proper word is . . tung-se ;
lantern " . . tunglung;
teeth " . . ya-ch' ;
mouth " . . tsuy-pa ;
father " . . foo-tsin, or kea-foo ;
husband " . . chang-foo ;
a (respectable) woman " . . foo-jin ;
an axe " . . foo-tow ;
officer " . . kvvan-foo ;
deputy governor " . . foo-yuen.
I believe in regard to all of these, (unless perhaps foo-tsin) that
unless one uses both syllables, he will not be understood.
This list might be increased to volumes. It is not meant that
these are the only words used, but they are the common ones ;
nor that there are not many monosyllables, just as there are in
English. In consequence of tiiis fact, that the spoken language
is not monosyllabic, it would be perfectly easy to write it with
Roman characters ; and there would be no more danger of mis-
taking the meaning than there is in English. In consequence of
this also, I am inclined to think that we should learn to speak
faster and better, by not attempting the Chinese characters at all,
at first ; and were my missionary life to be gone over, I would do
so. It is the way the Roman Catholic missionaries do. So much
for the spoken language. This is not the first time I have ex-
pressed these views.
Now in regard to the written language, the case is very difTerent.
There are a vast number of characters, and most, not all, of them
are complete in themselves ; the sound of many of them is alike,
but their shape and meaning are different. See them, and you
know at once what they mean. Hear them, and the first Hanlin
in the empire cannot tell you.
For example, you will have seen in the foregoing list, how often
the syllable foo occurs. There is 'V foo, a father ; y^ foo, a
husband; tS- foo, an officer; foo, a deputy governor. Look at
them, and there is no mistaking the meaning ; but hear them,
and you must hear the whole word. E. g. '^J foo becomes, '^ ri'rfil
foo-tsin, a father; ^ foo becomes, ^^ ^ Chang-foo, a husband;
T|jp foo becomes, 'p* ^tt- Kwan-foo, a Magistrate ; ^^- foo be-
comes J-4 P"^ foo-yuen, Deputy-Governor. There is no more
danger of "mistaking the meaning when you hear the second, than
there is when you see the first. But in writing, which is intended
to meet the eye, there is no occasion to write both characters, as
320 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
one conveys at a glance all that is wanted, provided you only
know it. Hence ia writing, commonly only one character of the
compound word is written ; and the man who reads aloud, in or-
der ihat others may understand, supplies the additional syllable
as he goes along. E. g. If a man in reading was simply to read
foOj and some one of the hearers was at a loss as to the meaning,
he would say, Chay Ting, Shi Shih yin Foo Tszq, " what /oo
character is that?" And the only reply would be, Foo-Tsin, Teih
Foo. " The foo in ' footsin,' " or, Kwan Foo, Teih Foo. " The
foo in Kwan/oo." I have heard such expressions hundreds of
times.
Here then is the radical difference between the written and
spoken language. The classical style abbreviates as much as
possible, using only one syllable, whenever that one will convey
the meaning to the eye. The intermediate style is not so very
close ; and the Seaoii Shwo, or vulgar style, approaches closely
to the spoken language, in using very often both the characters
that form a word. But a scholar will scarcely degrade himself by
writing, and never by praising such a style.
When a boy goes to school, the first thing he does is to learn
the names of the characters, but not their meaning. Five years
are spent at this, and at the end of that time, he can perhaps re-
peat the whole of the Four Books, without knowing the meaning
of a solitary character. Then the characters are explained to
him. The teacher takes the Four Books, or some other volume,
and goes over each character one by one. " This ^7 foo char-
acter is the character for father — i. e. Foo-tsin." "This ty^ foo
character is the character for officer — i. e. Kwan-foo." " This H^
foo character is the character for husband, Chang-foo;" and so he
goes on, explaining in the colloquial, which of course the boy knows,
the meaning of the written, which he can repeat, but does not
understand. There are a vast number of persons whose educa-
tion is not finished, i. e., who can read, but not understand. If
you see a boy reading, you may almost take it for granted, that
he does not know the meaning of what he reads. Dr. McCartee has
three bo3'^s, aged, one sixteen years, and the others fourteen and fif-
teen, all of whom can read, and the two elder can write beautifully;
but nearly all they know of the meaning of the characters, they
have learned within the last six months ; and though they know
the names of far more characters than I do, I doubt whether they
understand half as many.
This difference between the written and spoken dialects is the
radical one. There are otluMs, however, not less perplexing. The
greatest is, the pedantry of the Chinese, which is incomparably
worse than Dr. Johnson's, and has nothing of his powerful intel-
lect and varied intelligence to render it tolerable. High-flown ex-
pressions are employed, and most laboriously concise sayings,
covering as common-place thoughts as you will meet with in the
LETTERS — NINGPO. 321
essays of a village newripaper. For example, there is the first
sentence from the Shang-Lun, or Sayings of Confiicius,-^Tse
yue, heo wrh she seih die poo yih shwo hoo ? "The philoso-
pher says, To learn, and times to practise it, not also gratifying,
eh?" Yue pnng tsuh yuen fang tae poo yih yo hoo, "To have
friends from distant pUices come, not also Joyful, eh?" gin poo
che urh poo, poo yeh ke tse hoo? "Men not know, yet not
he displeased, not also a worthy man, eh ?" The above is literal :
here is the meaning. " Confucius says, ' That men should learn
what is virtuous, and constantly practise the same, is not this grat-
ifying ? That persons of tlie same sentimenis with myself, should
come to me from a distant place to learn, is not this a cause of
joy? But for men to be ignorant of the virtues of another, and
he, notwithstanding, be perfectly satisfied, and careless of applause
on account of his merits, is he not a worthy prince indeed?'" But
I have written more than I meant to do, and fear you are as tired
as I am myself. This subject may therefore pass, unless you write
for more particulars.
The city of Ningpolies nearly in the centre of a large plain, sur-
rounded on all sides by mountains, and intersected by innumerable
canals, which are nearly all navigable, and serve the double pur-
pose of irrigation and travelling. A covered boat and boatmen
can be had for a whole day for twenty-five cents, and whenever
we want to extend our ramble any distance bej'ond the city, we
find it most convenient to make use of them. The plain is at
least twenty miles in diameter in its narrowest part, and much
wider in other places. The whole of this great amphitheatre is
thickly studded over with villages and farm-houses, and has two
or three large cities besides Ningpo. Foreigners are not allowed
to wander beyond the heen,oi- district of which Ningpo is the cap-
ital. Its exact dimensions we do not well know, but we can go
at least three miles on ever}' side, and in one direction as many
as twenty or thirty. By a little prudence and care, we shall
doubtless obtain a wider range for our excursions. For the pres-
ent, unable as we are to speak with fluenc}', the field is vastly
larger than we can profitably occupy ; and whenever we can
speak well, we doubt not the door will be opened wider. Should
it not be opened, the question will arise, whether obedience to a
higher authority and covenant than any of human devising, will
not justify us in exceeding the limits that have been fixed, and
preaching in other cities the King<lom of God. On tliis point there
is some diversity of opinion amongst us ; but I am disposed to
think that a blessing would attend our efforts, if carried on, occa-
sionally at least, where the prince of this world now exercises su-
preme authority. Opposition and excitement on the part of the
rulers Avould but rouse attention to our work. But it may be
thought that this is looking too far ahead.
Tlie foreign trade of Ningpo is not so great as it once was. It
once carried on an important commerce with Manila, when South
21
322 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
America belonged to Spain, as well as with other parts of the
Chinese Empire. But of late years Shanghai has greatly sur-
passed it, and the latter city is likely to possess by much the lar-
gest share of trade with western lands. When the treaty was
formed in 1842, it was supposed by Sir Henry Poltinger, Mr. Mor-
rison, and nearly every other person, that Ningpo would be the
most important of the five ports ; but it has been found, that the
vicinity of Shanghai to the City of Loochow, and to the grand
canal, give it great advantages over any of the other ports. The
best days of Ningpo are probably past, and painful evidences of
decay are visible on all sides. Still it has a considerable trade with
Fuhiceen. and with the northern provinces ; and numerous junks
are constantly lying in the river. It offers more advantages to
Americans than to the English, as it lies nearer to the green tea
district, and offers a good market for the sale of American manu-
factured goods.
The people are as civil and obliging as could reasonably be ex-
pected, considering the severe and uncalled for treatment they re-
ceived during the war, and the thoughtless course of some of the
English officers, in destroying the public buildings for firewood.
We are better treated here, by far, than a Chinaman would be in
New York or London ; though it does occasionally ruffle one's
temper to hear himself called a pah-kwei, or white devil, with some
other such choice epithets. So far as I have seen, there is little
difference between this place and Shanghai in that respect ; and
the difference in favor of this place, which was observed not long
ago, was probably owing to the fear of foreigners then fresh in
mind, but now wearing off.
We have lately organized a church here, under the title, "Pres-
byterian Church of Ningpo," of which Mr. Culbertson has been
elected pastor. It consists of seven members, to wit : D. B.
McCartee, Hingapoo, a Chinese servant of Mr. Way's, together
with Mrs. Way, Mrs. Culbertson, Miss Aldersey, Ruth Ati, and
Christiana Kit. The two latter are Chinese girls whom Miss
Aldersey has educated, and who were baptized by Mr. Medhurstin
Java. Dr. McCartee was elected ruling elder, and Mr. Way and
myself also act as ruling elders for the time being. The church
was regularly organized on the 18t.h inst., when Mr. Culbertson
preached a sermon on Acts ii. 42-47, and Dr. McCartee was or-
dained as ruling elder, with the laying on of hands of the bishop,
and the right hand of fellowship from Mr. Way and myself, in our
capacity as ruling elders. It was a good day to us all ; and
though the beginning is small, we trust the latter end will greatly
increase. It is a day of small things, but a day not to be despised.
As this is the first Presbyterian church in China, pray for us that
the small one may become a thousand, and the weak one a strong
nation.
May 31st. In regard to the facilities for distributing tracts a
good deal might be said, but the nature of it would depend much
LETTERS. 323
on the disposition of the person who writes. Any number might
be given away. I would undertake to give to eager appHcants
more than as many as our press could possibly print, but the mis-
fortune is, that they would be just as eagerly sought after, if they
were copies of Paine's Age of Reason, or any other book in the
world. I think each mem!)er of our mission disapproves of indis-
criminate distribution. We do not yet know the proportion of the
people who can read, though it is probably small : yet we have an
excellent opportunity here of circulating tracts and gospels, and
there is rarely a day that Dr. McCartee and myself do not give
away one or more, where we are pretty sure they will be read.
We regard this, therefore, as an important means of circulating
the principles of our religion, though greatly inferior to the oral
preaching of the Word.
You have several times spoken of the ease with which a synon-
ymous character might be substituted, in case we could not make
the required one with the types on hand. This is a thing very
difficult to do; for there are very few characters indeed, that are
properly speaking synonymous. It is much better to get the char-
acters wanted cut by the hand, on metal blocks, which we can
commonly have done without difficulty. I must stop now, for my
letter is swelling to an unreasonable length.
I remain your affectionate son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Ningpo, July 22d, 1845.
My Dear Mother —
.... Did you ever notice Psalm xxx. 5. "His anger endureth
but a moment, in his favor is life. Weeping may endure for a
night, but joy cometh in the morning." Is not that beautiful?
But here is a literal translation of it, which is, if possible, still
more beautiful and expressive :
" A moment in hi.s ancjer,
But lifetimes in his favor :
In the evening, weeping will abide ;
But in the morning there is shouting."
Observe the force of the expression. "In the evening, weeping
will abide." It " will abide." It threatens to remain long with
us; sorrow seems as if it were about to take up its abode. Night
is before us, and we see no sun, no day, no joy beyond. But the
night quickly passes, "as a dream of the night," and what then?
"In the morning there is shouting." And how true it is. Just
compare Isaiah liv. 7, with 2 Corinthians iv. 17.
That a person can be a Christian, and yet afraid of death, I
have no doubt. Indeed, I suppose most Christians are so. But
why should it be so? It is hardly correct to say, " The Bible says
' Death is the king of terrors.' " Bildad the Shuhite said so, or some-
324 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
thing like it, for I am not sure that he meant death by that ex-
pression ; but if he did, I would not like to take all he said for the
Bible. The New Testauient does not so represent it. It says
that Christ "g-ave up the ghost," and that Stephen "fell asleep."
The apostle says, even of the offending Corinthian Christians,
" man}^ sleep ;" and of deceased Christians generally, that they
"are asleep." Asleep! what is so peaceful! quiet repose in
Christ ! how long or short it matters little. Soon the Lord will
come again, and them that are asleep will he bring with him.
How soon ? We know not ; but soon, not a thousand years off,
but so soon that we may not fall asleep, perhaps, before he
comes
As ever, affectionately yours,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Ningpo, August 2d, 1845.
My Dear Father —
.... My health is better, so far, this year, than any year since
I came to China. Still, however, the warm weather has a weak-
ening effect, whicli we all feel more or less. There is too in this
place a constant tendency to diarrhoea in summer, which needs a
good deal of care to avoid it. In another month the cool weather
will commence. If this year be a fair specimen of Ningpo sum-
mer, I think there is every prospect of good health here. It is
said, however, to be cooler than usual. . . .
1 am now engaged in preparing a copy of Luke for publication,
with short notices, which I hope will be ready by the end of the
year ; and perhaps I shall prepare also Acts in the same way. I
am losing faith in the doctrine, " The Bible without note or com-
ment," at least as far as the Chinese are concerned, from the often
witnessed fact, that the most intelligent of them fall into frequent
and gross mistakes as to its meaning. For example, many think
we worship our ancestors, because the Lord's prayer conmiences,
" Our Father, which art in heaven." If we only had enough of our
small type, Luke and the comments might make a volume of
seventy-five or one hundred pages. With Dyer's type, and the
Paris type, it will be one hundred and fifty or more, and conse-
quently far more expensive, and, as I think, not so good-looking.
Perhaps if we print it, we may get enough of small type cut by
hand to supply all we want. This will be expensive, but not
much more so than to use so much more paper, (fcc, with larger
type.
. . . . " The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice." His own cause
is infinitely dear to him, and our follies, weaknesses, sins, mis-
takes, all things shall not retard it ; no, not for one moment. His
way may be in darkness and storms, and the clouds may be but
the dust of his feet; but in due time, at the appointed season, all
will be plain. Till then, " Wo unto the world because of offences.
LEAVES FROM THE NOTE-BOOK OF A MISSIONARY. 325
It must needs be that offences come ;" but I pray God that they
come not from us. Oh for that happy time when they shall not
hurt nor destroy, nor cause to offend, in all God's holy mountain.
Ever affectionately your son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
LEAVES FROM THE NOTE-BOOK OF A MISSIONARY. NO. III.
It is a fact which can neither be denied, nor sufficiently lamented,
that the influence of nominal Christians in heathen lands is too
often adverse to Christianity. It is not necessary to refer to the
countenance, and in some instances open patronage which some
Christian governments have given to idolatry, nor to their exces-
sive scruples, lest their subjects should, in the slightest degree, in-
terfere with the religious belief or the prejudices of the heathen,
while equally reprehensible interference with their social custonis
and laws and feelings are overlooked and neglected. Of the mass
of nominal Christians in heathen lands, it must be said, that while
often retaining, in a high degree, the character of gentlemen, up-
right as nien of business, and most obliging in their deportment to
strangers, they, with few exceptions, drop that of a Christian. To
do business on the Sabbath, in many places, is so common, that it
is the rule ratlier than the exception. In a frequented port I have
noticed that more ships were sent to sea on the Sabbath, than on
any other day of the week ; and I have heard it said in reference
to this, " the better day the better deed !" while, with very many,
the Sabbath is the day for visiting and amusement. Where tliere
is divine service in EngUsh, a part of the connnunity attend, and
generally give a most respectful attention ; but the large majority
are never seen in a house of worship, even where they have the
means of easiest access to it. Of profane swearing, and of some
vices of which it is a shame even to speak, it is not my purpose
now to write anything, nor to add more on this topic than this:
that far too connnonly, even where there is nothing outwardly in-
correct, the heathen would never suspect that those coming from
Christiaji lands had any more religion than a Mohammedan, or a
Parsee, or an infidel.
But though a regard to truth requires these melancholy facts to
be stated, it equally requires to be made known that there are'
some bright and honorable exceptions. There are few places
where any number of foreign residents are collected, where there
are not a few who are " clothed in white ;" and were it proper to
do so, the writer of this article, and perhaps nearly every mission-
ary, could speak of " honorable men and devout women," v/ho are,
in their a[)propria(e spheres, lights to the heathen, and examples
to their own countrymen. Without speaking of any who are now
living, or betraying the confidence reposed in me by those who are
dead, I wish to trace a few lines respecting one witii whom I spent
326 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
many a pleasant hour, which, while they confirm the statements
just made, will give another evidence of the incidental benefits of
missionary operations.
During the greater part of my residence in , there was no
other clergyman there, and, as there was a small number of Eng-
lish and American residents, several of whom had their families
with them, I was in the habit of conducting divine service on the
Sabbath morning, with some occasional meetings, and also admin-
istering the Lord's Supper once a month. The number of attend-
ants on the Sabbath varied from twenty to fifty, (there were one
hundred and fifty who might have attended), and from six to
twelve sat down at the Lord's table. Among the constant attend-
ants was a lady with whom I became slightly acquainted, and
whose earnest attention to the word preached, was such as I have
seldom seen equalled. Of a sweet disposition and polished man-
ners, she was a general favorite, and had so many visitors, that it
was seldom possible for me to see her alone; and this, joined to
an exceeding diffidence to speak on religious subjects, prevented
me, for a long time, from forming much acquaintance with her,
or seeing fully the character of her piety. She was a member of
an evangelical church in her own land, and, maintaining a con-
sistent deportment, she commonly met with us when the Lord's
Supper was administered. On one occasion, however, she declined
coming, without assigning any reason, and on the next occasion
did the same. Not feeling that I possessed the 'pastor'' s right to
inquire into the matter, nor being sufficiently acquainted to do it
as a friend, I was at some loss what to do, and even wronged her
so much as to think that her refusal to come might have proceed-
ed from improper motives. After wailing several months, and ob-
serving no change in her consistent deportment, nor her attention
to the ordinances of the sanctuary, it seemed a duty to see her,
and, if in my power, to assist her. But the place was then full of
visitors ; and after some ineffiictual attempts to see her alone, I
wrote her a note, urging on her the importance and benefit of
meeting with her fellow-Christians, and offering any assistance or
instruction in my power. An immediate answer was returned,
on the perusal of which it was difficult to refrain from tears. Her
declining to attend at the administration of the Lord's Supper
arose from no want of desire to do so, for it was her earnest wish
to be a disciple of the Saviour, but from some views of Christian
character and experience respecting which she had had no Chris-
tian friend to set her right. Being exceedingly afraid of death,
she thought this a proof that she could not be a Christian ; but
her whole note breathed so thoroughly the spirit of one of " the
Iambs of the flock," and exhibited so many of the marks which
are found in all true believers, that, after pointing her attention
to them, in answer to her question, "Do you think I ought to
come to the Lord's table?" I could not but reply, " For you, and
such as you, there is a special right, and a special place reserved,"
LEAVES FROM THE NOTE-BOOK OF A MISSIONARY. 327
or something to that effect. The answer sent relieved her mind
SO much, that on the next day she met with us, and afterwards,
overcoming her natural rehictance to speak of herself and her re-
hgious feelings to a stranger, she frequently applied to me for
counsel, and, during the few remaining months of my sojourn in
, gave me many opportunities of assisting her in her pilgrim-
age. It was delightful to witness her Christian character ex-
panding, and her rapid growth in grace and in knowledge. Timid
as a bird in an unknown region, or a child that is but just begin-
ning to walk, her cliief anxiety seemed to be, to know and to do
the will of the Lord. Too delicate a plant to have braved the
winds that others might endure, I could not but notice how the
Lord " stayed his rough wind in the day of his east wind," and
caused the temptations that fell more heavily on others to turn
away from her. Ever anxious to know the truth, she put many
a question to me, which my own limited experience scarcely ena-
bled me to answer, while her gratitude for the assistance she re-
ceived, formed, at the time, one of the sweetest solaces, and now,
one of the pleasantest remembrances of my sojourn in — . I
never heard an unkind or slighting expression from her lips, in
regard to any of her associates; while for some, and especially for
her husband and children, her anxiety for their salvation was
deep and overpowering. She frequently asked respecting mission-
ary operations among the heathen, and, when 1 came away, put
a considerable sum of money in my hands, to be used in any way
to facilitate labors among them.
Several months passed thus away, and it became needful for
me to leave . She did not attempt to conceal her deep regret
when she bade me farewell, for, owing to her natural diffidence,
she feared that it would be long before she should meet another
to whom she could so freely resort for counsel. One or two let-
ters, breathing the same deep and simple earnestness in seeking
the favor of God, followed me to my new place of residence ; but
ere the answer to her second note reached her, she was no more.
A sickness that she had foreseen, and from which she had scarcely
expected to recover, carried her away. She had, all her life, been
much afraid of death ; and this, as much as anything else, led her
to suspect her own piety ; nor could all my counsels enable her to
overcome it. But, as tlie pious Bunyan remarks, " The river [of
death] to some has had its flowings and its ebbings when others
have gone over. It has been, in a manner, dry for some, while it
has overflowed its banks for others." When the trying hour came,
her gentle spirit was sustained by an unseen hand ; and, with the
utmost calmness, she made every arrangement for her departure,
spoke words of consolation to her weeping husband, and slept in
Jesus.
328 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
JOURNAL AT NINGPO.
August 7ih. Mr. and Mrs. Culbertson went toChusan yesterday,
and Dr. McCartee to-day, principally for health. I ain left alone in
the temple. Commenced to-day for the first time explaining the por-
tion of the Scriptures read at prayers, and reading a prayer. Took
the " Two Friends," as being easier for me, and more colloquial
than the Gospels, and was told by Azhik, when done, that he un-
derstood all I said. This was encouraging, for I spoke " with
stammering lips," but it is likely to be a profitable exercise. Went
this afternoon to take a view from the "Teen fung ta," a tower of
Ningpo ; but though it was clear on one side, the other was so
covered with smoke that little could be seen. From the door to
the highest platform are one hundred and fifty steps, w^hich, being
about eight inches each on an average, gives one hundred feet as
the height. To the roof of the highest platform is perhaps ten
feet more, and ten feet above this for the top, with five feet for the
foundation above ground, gives about one hundred and twenty-
five feet as the total height. The walls are very thick, at the top
over five feet even. It has seven stories, each lighted by six win-
dows, with a wooden railing in each to prevent accidents. It looks
old and ruinous, and suffers much for want of the wooden projec-
tions, with which it was once ornamented.
The view from the top was niagnificent, and in a clear day
must be enchanting. The citadel of Chinhai ; the hills all around,
except in the direction where the plain is lost in the sea ; the nu-
merous towns and villages ; and the three rivers meandering
through the plain, form a scene of beauty rarely witnessed. The
city and suburbs seem very extensive as seen from the summit.
There are a vast number of trees in all directions, principally the
small dark Junipers, over the tombs.
August 8. Exhibiting a. microscope to my teacher and servants,
at which they were in great astonishment. The beautiful work-
manship of the instrument itself, (a present from a kind friend in
New York,) attracted much admiiation ; but its power in display-
ing minute objects was a thing of which they had formed no pre-
vious conception. The hairy leg of a fly was an object of especial
curiosity, and they exclaimed frequently, "Why, the fly's leg has
hairs ! the fly's leg has hairs !"
The weather is now warm, and weakening in its effects. One's
strength is easily exhausted, and two or three hours of close appli-
cation, either to the pen or one's books, is fatiguing.
August 9. A feast for the dead, who have no surviving children
to worship them, is just now (nine o'clock, p. m.) going on outside
of my rooms. Two long ropes, with numerous strips of colored
paper suspended, are hung along the sides of the streets, and tables
with various eatables, as eggs, water-lily roots, beans, fish, ginger,
rice, cups of spirits, and the like, are spread over them. At one
end is a hideous monster made of paper, and at the other a com-
JOURNAL AT NINGPO. 329
pany of priests are performing some monotonous ceremonies.
Budliist and Taou priests mingle together iti the ri(es, and the
little children look on it as a great "raree-show." The object is
to feed the souls of dead men in this neighborhood, who have
no children left to provide for their wants. Contributions have
been given by the neighbors around to tlie amount of four thousand
cash, and as all the expenses will scarcely amount to one thousand,
the remainder will of course fall into tlie pockets of the priests.
It is now early harvest for millet and rice. The grain is threshed
very soon after being cut, and entirely by hand. Threshing-floors
seem unknown, though the paved fronts of large old tombs and
similar places are often used for drying floors. After being cut, or
pulled up as the case may be, which is done handful by handful,
the stalks are spread out to dry for a day or two, and then carried
to the threshing box, which is moved from place to place as it is
wanted. This box is about four feet square by two deep, being
wider at the top than at the bottom. In the box on one side there
is a strong frame of long strips of bamboo, against which the heads
of the grain are beaten, while a large mat on the other three sides
prevents them from flying away, and they fall down to the bottom
of the box. It is slow and hard work, but seems quite effectual.
After drying this grain some days longer, it is winnowed, either in
sieves in the open air, or in a windmill, much the same as those
used by farmers in the United States. After this the rice must be
pounded in mortars, or rubbed between two wooden grinders to
remove tlie husk adhering to each separate grain. There is a vast
deal of labor in cultivating rice, as the Chinese do it. The grain
is fiist steeped in water, then sowed in nursery beds, then trans-
planted by hand, then weeded, an operation which requires men
to go over the field on their hands and knees, in mud and water a
foot deep, irrigated two or three times by water-wheels, cut,
threshed, dried, winnowed, pounded, winnowed again, and I do
not know how many more operations.
Saturday evening, August 23. A warm oppressive day. Feel-
ing a slight headache in the evening, I went out and sat down on
the wall by the north gate, to etrjoy wlrat little wind might be
stirring. Several workmen who lodged in the guard-house over
the gate, came up to me, and after a few questions and answers
we were on the best possible terms. The conversation, where all
were in a good-humor, and all wanted to talk, was very mixed,
and sometimes diverting enough. After a few ordinary phrases, I
began to find myself out of my depth, but still a word here and
there, and half a sentence sometimes, kept us going. At last I
asked them " what gods they worshipped ?" to which some replied,
"Yuh-kwaiig," (the Jewelled Emperor,) also "Kwan-yin," and va-
rious others. On this I remarked that these were all false gods,
mere wood and clay, they were unable to speak, hear, see or walk.
Of what use were they ? Why should tliey be worshipped 1
These remarks excited frequent bursts of laughter, with exclama-
330 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
tinns, "True !" ''Just so!" and the like. They then asked if we
had no idols in our country, on which, " with stammering' lips, and
in another tongue,'' I set before them the onl^^ object of worship,
the true God, the Supreme Ruler of all, the hearer of prayer, and
his son Jesus Christ. They were astonished when told that he
could see, hear, and speak, and asked various questions, to many
of which I found it diffirult to reply. On coming away several of
them requested me to "come again to-morrow."
Wednesday, September 3. Dr. McCartee and myself started on
a trip of relaxation and exploration, meaning to visit Teentung, a
celebrated Budhist monastery, some twenty-five miles south of
Ningpo. We engageil a boat large enougli to accommodate our-
selves, with my teacher, and a servant, besides the two boatmen.
The charge for the boat and boatmen is about half a dollar a day.
The boat being somewliat slow in starting, we strolled through
a large grave-yard near the landing. Numerous coffins were
lying about on the top of the ground with no covering whatever,
and some were almost fallen to pieces through age. There were
three stone buildings about ten or twelve feet square, and as many
high, intended for the reception of children's bones. One was the
"Children's Pagoda," and the others the "Boy's Pagoda," and
"Girls' Pagoda." Such buildings are common, for in China little
attention is paid to the burial of children, unless they ha|)pen to
be the first born. Instead of the massive coffins in which the re-
mains of adults are laid, a slight box is nailed together, in which
they are deposited, and laid anywhere, until, the frail structure
having decayed, and the flesh disappeared, the bones are collected
and put in such buildings as these.
Continuing our walk through the suburb, which is long and
wide, and near the city very populous, we gave away some tracts,
but refused many applicants, on the ground that they could not
read. It soon began to rain, and getting into our boat, we pro-
ceeded rapidly on our way. We slept rather uncomfortaljly in
the boat, and arrived during the night at the hills within six miles
of Teentung.
The next morning on awaking we found ourselves at tlie foot
of some hills, and as far as the boat could go. The country around
had an inviting aspect, and we began to promise ourselves much
pleasure in rambling about among the hills. But to our dismay,
iieavy showers of rain came up every few minutes, and it soon ap-
peared that there was small prospect of getting comfortably to
Teentiuig. Tliere are no nice covered coaches here, nor good
broad roads, and the only conveyances to be had consisted of open
sedan chairs, in which ourselves, arid what was worse, our bedding
and changes of raiment, were sure to be thoroughly wet. After
some hesitation we deemed it best, since the weather was so un-
promising, to keep to the boat, and instead of going directly to
Teentung, to go to Tung-woo, a romantic lake among the hills,
and see what the prospect might be from there. The hills are less
JOURNAL AT NINGPO. 331
barren than those farther south, and produce a good deal of long
coarse grass, and stunted brush, suitable for fire-wood, ("the grass
of the field to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven ;") but
they are scarcely susceptible of profitable cuUivation. All the val-
leys, however, which are large, and the hollows between the hills,
which are numerous, are well cultivated, and the population is
great. Villages are in profusion.
During the day we came to a large hill of coarse red sandstone,
which has been worked as a stone quarry for some two hundred
years, and is more than half cut away. We went to see it in a
driving rain, and found it a singular scene. Avenues were cut in.
various directions, as the veins of the stone happened to be best
adapted for working. In some places, high rocks were left stand-
ing, like castles towering in the air, and close by there would be
excavations dug down in the solid rock as many as twenty feet
and more. Vast masses of rubbish were piled about on every side,
so as to render walking in some places difficult, while the driving
rain, and the wind rushing among the broken rocks, gave an air
of indescribable wildness to the scene. A number of men were
working in the rain, all of whom seemed cheerful and civil enough.
We left a few tracts, though there were but few who could read.
Thence we proceeded till we came in sight of Tung-woo ; but
to our disappointment found the water in the canal so low, (not-
withstanding the late heavy rains,) that we could not reach the
lake in our boat, and the frequent showers precluded the idea of
walking. We turned our faces towards Yuh-wav^, a large Bud-
hist monastery, with two high towers, which we had seen during
the morning.
We reached the monastery a little before sunset, and found it
so embowered in trees that the buildings were not visible till we
were close to them. The Budhist priests have certainly, what is
rather unconnnon among other classes, a good deal of taste in the
selection of their residences. This monastery is beautifully situ-
ated in a gorge of two hills, with another hill directly in front.
This does not furnish a very wide prospect in any direction, but it
makes the place quiet and retired. A brick wall inclosing several
acres of ground goes round the monastery. Entering the main
gate, we went down to the bottom of the valley, crossed a little
bridge thrown over the valley stream, and ascending a sliglit ele-
vation of some twenty feet or more, entered the buildings, and pro-
ceeding through one or two large court-yards, were politely re-
ceived by the monks, and shown into the strangers' apartments, a
set of three or four roojns, with some chairs, tables, and bedsteads.
Monasteries and temples are the principal inns in China, though
they seldom furnish more than four walls and a roof. The trav-
eller is expected to furnish his own bedding and food, and to have
some one to prepare it for him, though the latter service can gen-
erally be performed for him by extempore cooks, if he is willing to
put up with the ignorance of foreign modes and dirty habits, by
332 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
which they are geneially di?tiii2:uished. It is, however, the safest
and cheapest plan for tlie traveller to have his own servant along;
and though some good friend of missions at home may ask what
business a plain missionary has to carry a servant about with him,
yet such would do well to consider, that here we have no comfort-
able inns, with separate rooms which we can lock when we go
out, and where everything in the shape of bedding and food is
prepared for us by attentive landlords. But t[)is is digression. —
Being wearied by the confinement of our boat, we were glad to
get our supper ; and after a hasty glance at the buildings, as it
was now dark, we soon went to bed, but did not rest very well, for
there was an abundance of fleas, and having neglected our own
musketo curtains, we were fain to use some we found in the mon-
astery, which did not shelter us perfectly from the attacks of the
musketoes.
The first building is a large high structure of only one story.
Within it is about one hundred feet long by seventy broad, and
the roof is supported by numerous wooden pillars, standing on
stone bases. The Chinese have not the art of supporting a roof
without using so many pillars as to diminish materially the effect
of a large room. The principal objects in this room were three
immense figures, the Tliree Precious Buddhas. They were sit-
ting with their feet drawn up like tailors at work, and were of
immense size. Judging from the base of the seat on which they
sat, and which, though twelve feet square, they quite covered,
they must have been eighteen or twenty feet high, even in their
sitting posture. They were richly gilt, and between them stood
two attendants, gilt all over, and perhaps twelve feet high. They
did not seern to have much worship paid to them, and the spar-
rows which had made their nests in the roof above, defiled the
place with dirt. Behind these figures, and facing the other way,
was the image of ^w«7?. Yi/«, " She who regards the prayers of
the world," sitting on a horse, (or ass?) and carrying a child in her
arms. Several attendants stood round her shrine, which was al-
together a curious specimen of working in clay. It represented
the sea, with numerous rocks and islands, over which she was
crossing on horseback. Along the ends and back of this building,
sat thirty-four gilt images, each as large as the human figure, with
every variety of countenance and dress. In front of the door
stood the most curiously gnarled tree I ever saw. Its trunk was
more than a foot in diameter ; after rising up some six or eight
feet it bent back in a sharp angle to the ground, and then
stretched up again, while its branches stood out in every direction.
It was inclosed by a stone railing, and evidently was esteemed a
great curiosity. There was some story of miraculous appearances
connected with it; but I have forgotten what it is.
Directly behind this building, and separated from it by a large
square stone paved court, was another some sixty by eighty feet
in dimensions, and in much better keeping. The principal objects
JOURNAL AT NINGPO. 333
of interest were two really magnificent shrine?, of a circular
pyramidal shape, one behind the other. Over the hinder one an
immense silken canopy was suspended, lights were constantly
burning before tliem, and some of the monks seemed to be always
in the building. And for what, think you, was all this display ?
Because one of the shrines contained a veritable Sliay-le of Buddh,
taken from his sacred body before his deification ! And what is a
Shay-le ? On this point I can get bdt little satisfaction. I am
told " it is neither gold nor brass, nor stone, nor yet bone nor flesh.
It is a small round thing, about as big as the half of a pea, and
looks somewhat like a scab from a sore that is healing up." For
a " consideration" the priests will allow you to see it, and if you
are a good man, or likely to be prosperous, its color is red, but if
the reverse, it will be black. As great honors are paid to this
valuable relic, as to the blood of St. Jannarius, and no doubt the
priests make much money out of it. My teacher, who has of
late some new views on some topics,) laughs at it as an imposition
to wheedle people out of their money. There are several idols in
this hall, one of which is a jolly fat old fellow with a continual
laugh on his face. The other buildings of the temple have little
in them worthy of notice, and the rain was so violent that we
were obliged to postpone to another time our purposed visit to the
towers and grounds of the temple. This we regretted, as the two
towers are each seven stories high, and the country had a very
pretty appearance.
There are about thirty monks in the establishment. Those we
saw were generally pale and sickly looking fellows, with counte-
nances betokening very litlle mental exertion or worth. The
routine of their duties is such, as must effectually quench every
noble aspiration, for it consists in an Uiiceasing round of prostra-
tions and chants, generally in an unknown tongue, and almost
always performed without the slightest appearance of devotion or
zeal. It is marvellous how men can for years practise such in-
sipid ceremonies, wit'iout becoming utierly disgusted with them.
One of the monks had deprived himself of one of his fingers by
a very painful process ; he had wrapped oiled flax around it down
to the middle of the joint next the hand, and burned it slowly,
another monk reciting prayers all the time, till the finger v;as
consumed. When we saw him the stump was not perfectly
healed. He had also seared the flesh of one arm in a dozen
places with a hot iron. He had a special vow of abstinence from
covetousness, wine, and lewdness, and these were the marks by
which he made his vow generally known. But notwithstanding
such evidences, which, by the way, are not unconunon, the char-
acter of those who bear them is by no means good. The " for-
bidding to marry, and commanding to abstain fro:n meats," by
which the Buddhist and Taou sects are distinguished, are followed
by just the consequences which all history teaches us to expect.
It was melanclioly to meet even here, with traces of the injury
334 MEMOIR OP WALTER M. LOWRIE.
done by foreigners to our religion. This temple has been visited
by several Englishmen, and some of other nations, (we were the
first American visitors,) and we had not been long there, before
the monks told us that a former visitor had gone and bowed down
before their idols, and then turning to one of his companions, as-
sured the monk? that this was the god of England, and in their
presence performed acts of devotion to him, such as they performed
to their idols! I give the ftory as it was told, without vouching
for its truth. If it be true, what shall be said? The excuse that
would be given by the persons concerned, would doubtless be, that
it was only in sport, or possibly, to throw contempt on idolatry ;
but who will deem this sufficient? You ask if I believe the story?
All I can say is, I have known of things nearly as bad, nor should
I feel surprised if even this were true. One thing is certain, the
story is generally believed by the Chinese who have been to the
temple, for the monks are fond of telling it, and is quoted by
them as a proof that foreigners worship idols. In saying this, I
testify to that I do know.
Having seen all we wanted, and being tired of staying, we be-
gan to think of going, — but how to accomplish it? The rain fell
in torrents, and the road to our boat was flooded the greater part
of the wa}?^ by a stream of water nearly a foot deep. It was a
regular scene in wading, and might have reminded one of trout-
fishing in the streams in Pennsylvania. Getting to the boat, we
changed our wet clothes for others, and going off in the rain,
reached home shortly before dark, greatly amused and profited by
our trip, though it had not turned out as we had expected.
Tuesday, October 14. Having occasion to visit Chusan, started
in a boat about midnight and reached Chusan at one o'clock,
p. M. Asking a boatman how far it was from Chinhai to Chu-
san, he replied, " It's all by water, and nobody knows." The
Chinese have no idea of any way of measuring distances by
water, and though this man had gone between the two places
probably fifty times, he had not troubled himself even to guess
how far apart they might be. Such, too, is the ignorance of even
learned men in China respecting Astronomy, that it is difficult to
give them any idea of the way of measuring distances by celes-
tial observations.
In walking through the streets of Chusan, I was singularly
affected by hearing a little girl, daughter of one of the English
soldiers now stationed here, saying, " my mother wants you to
come back directly." The familiar words and English accent
spoken by a young person, were so different from the "unknown
tongue " spoken by every one around, that they easily transported
my thoughts to a land where all speak my own mother tongue.
How strangely it would now seem, to be where everybody spoke
the same language with myself!
Tuesday, October 21. Started on a trip to Poo-too, one of the
most celebrated establishments of the Buddhists in China.
JOURNAL AT NINGPO. 335
Having a fair wind and tide, the boat proceeded rapidly along
the southern shore of Chusan, towards its eastern extremity.
Numerous islands, large and small, stud the whole length of the
island, and the channels between them are generally deep. About
five miles east of Tinghai, there is a small village called iSeaou
Yen, or "Salt Pans," from the quantity of salt manufactured
there. The shores of Chusan for many miles, and of some of
the opposite islands, are used for manufacturing salt. There is
not much level ground, but much of what there is being low, it is
covered at high water, and after the tide is fallen, the mud, satu-
rated with salt water, is drawn up in heaps, and the salt water
oozes out into large vessels sunk for that purpose into the earth.
This water is then boiled in concave iron pans, each holding
several gallons. The heaps of earth thus gathered are often
ten or twelve feet high, but the late long rains had so materially
interfered with the business, that I was unable to obtain any
satisfactory account of the various processes. Judging from the
number of piles of earth, there must be several thousand persons
employed in the business. The salt trade is a monopoly in
China, and some of the salt merchants are among the richest
men in the empire.
Poo-too lies east of the north-eastern extremity of Chusan. Ac-
cording to a Chinese history of the island, it is about a hundred
le, or a little over thirty miles, from Tinghai. Having an unfavora-
ble wind, we had to beat across the channel, and did not reach it till
after three o'clock, p. m. Its aspect from the sea is but little more
inviting than that of the other islands around, and what it has in
appearance that is pleasant is owing to art ; for excepting the
trees that show themselves in the valleys and among the rocks,
which have been planted by man, it is even wilder and rockier
than its companions. A deep cleft or valley near the middle of
the island reveals the yellow tiled roof of one of the principal
temples, from a great distance off, but the principal landing-place
is at the south-eastern extremity.
No sooner does one step on shore than he has evidence on every
side that the place is '• wholly given to idolatry." A small wor-
shipping place stood close by the landing ; shrines and inscriptions
were cut in the rocks by the roadside, and a large red gateway
covered with tiles announced the approach to a temple. Pursuin<»'
the walk a hundred yards further over a broad stone-paved path-
way overhung by trees, you enter the Pih-hwa-i/eii, or " white
flowery monastery." Here I sought for lodgings, but the monks
seemed not to desire company, and complained of having met
such uncivil treatment from foreigners who had recently been
there, that they did not wish to see any more. However, they
finally sliowed me a suite of three or four rooms, or rather closets,
up stairs, of which I took possession, and leaving my servant to
keep watch and get dinner ready, I sallied out to see what might
be seen.
336 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
The Pih-hwa-yen is an old building built on a foundation dug
out of the hill-side, and almost concealed from sight by large over-
hanging trees and shrubbery. It is now in bad repair, and has
aa old and faded appearance. The number of monks is said to
be about forty, but i saw not more tlian ten or twelve. The idols
and ornaments of the temple are all old and shabby, and it has
little to interest a visitor. In one of the main courts under the
verandah were pasted up some twelve or fifteen large red cards,
presented by ships' companies with other offerings in gratitude to
the gods who had brought them on so far. Two or three of the
vessels were from Hwnij-Chow, ia Canton, most of them from
Chang- Chow, Tsetfen-chow, and Hing-hwa, ia Fuhkeen, and
only oiie from a seaport in Cheh-keang. In the evening a relig-
ious ceremony of some kind was performed by tlie old ab'oot, assisted
by some six of the monks, with several of tiie young candidates
for the Buddhist priesthood, some sailors and myself for spec-
tators. The abbot put on a scarlet robe and a crown, and taking
an incense stick ia his hand, performed numerous ceremonies, ac-
companied with a repetition of prayers aad chantiag, in the chorus
of which the other monks joined. But there was not tlie slightest
appearance of devotion, except periiaps in the manner of the old
abbot. The others, in the intervals of the chanting, drank tea,
gazed about, and talked with one another, while the young can-
didates for the priesthood anuised themselves with annoying one
of the officiating monks, and putting balls in his chair, to trouble
him when he sat down. This called forth an angry reproof from
hiin, and produced a hearty laugh on their part. Seeing things
go on thus, I gave one of the spectators a tract, whereon several
others asked for some ; and finally one of the monks left his de-
votions and came for one. I then said something on the folly of
worshipping such idols, and a hearty laugh followed the exposure
of the helplessness of their gods. With some further remarks on
the way to worship the true God, and his son Jesus Christ, I left
them, glad to get away from the sin and folly of their unmeaning
ceremonies. They kept them up with the beating of gongs and
drums during the greater part of the night.
From the Pih-hwa-yen, a paved stone walk, some five feet broad,
extends over a hill and down to the central valley of the island,
where the principal establishment, called the iSee-n-sz\ is built. On
several of the large rocks along this road, inscriptions are cut in
large letters, and shrines are built against, or carved out of the
rocks. At one place is a little shrine with some characters in a
language I did not know, probably tlie Sanscrit, and beneath Nan
1000 oh me to fnh, words that are constantly and "vainly" re-
peated in the religious ceremonies of the Buddhists. Several paths
branched off from the main road, leading to smaller yen, or mon-
asteries, in the recesses of the hills.
Arrived at the bottom of the valley, you pass through a large
gateway, composed of four massive stone pillars, each a single block
JOURNAL AT POOTOO.
337
of granite about twenty feet high. Beyond this a few steps and
you pass, at right angles, on the left another gateway leading into
the main buildings. Before coming to this gateway is an inscrip-
tion carved in stone to this ert'ect : " Every officer, whether civil
or military, and all the common people, on arriving at this place,
must dismount from their horses." The reason of this soon ap-
peared, for just within the second gateway, and inclosed within
an octagonal tower, covered with yellow tiles, was an immense
marble tablet, with a long inscription, presented by the Emperor
Kanghi. It is the custom in China for all to dismount and walk
when passing before anything that comes from the Emperor,
though there was but little occasion for the order in this instance,
seeing tliere is not a horse or ass upon the island.
Beyond this is a pond of water, with many of the broad-leaved
Lotus plants growing at each end, and a beautifully arched stone
bridge across it. Beyond this again, reaching clear to the base of
the hill, were several large yellow-tiled temples, with open courts
in front, and two-storied doimitories at either side of the courts
for the monks. In the temples were any number of huge hideous
idols, all once richly gilt, but now brown with age, and black and
dirty with the smoke of incense. Just within the door of the main
building was a shrine for drawing lots, and telling fortunes, with
the inscription above, " Yew kew peih ying.^'' "He that seeketh
will certainly find an answer." Some two dozen monks were
kneeling and chanting in the main building, among whom were
several older than any I have ever seen. Outside one or two
monks were superintending the winnowing of some paddy; others
were watching men splitting up the roots of an old tree for fire-
wood, and others were doing nothing. So lazy and good-for-noth-
ing a set as the Buddhist and Taou priests, 1 have never seen ;
and I could not but admire the simple truth with which one of
the boatmen described their occupations, when I asked him what
they did, " Why sir, they eat rice, and read prayers." In one of
the side buildings, w4iich is three stories high, there is a bell five
feet in diameter, and more than seven feet in height. It is beaten
with a wooden hammer, (the Chinese bells rarely have clappers,)
and its sound when gently struck, amidst the chantings and chorus
of the monks below, was far from being unpleasant.
Everything about these buildings showed signs of age, neglect,
and decay. The yellow tiles, the gift of imperial favor, were
falling from the roofs, grass was growing in the stone-paved court-
yards, weeds encumbered the sacred Lotus pond, windows and
doors were falling to pieces, and the curtains and ornaments of
the idols were even browned with smoke and dust. Here, too,
there was but little evidence of devotion in their worship, and one
of the monks stopped in the midst of his chanting to ask me
when I arrived. I left the place with an aching heart ; for the
sight of these old men bending over the grave, and yet chanting
the praises of these wooden gods, was a painful subject for thought.
22
338 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Prom the Seen-sz', a stone pathway leads over another eleva-
tion, and through a valley into a deep recess among the hills,
where the next large establishment, the How-sz\ is situated.
This is smaller than the Seen-sz', and exhibits even more traces
of neglect and decay. The roof of one of the buildings had partly
fallen in, and the broken tiles and mortar were lying about the
altar. Being somewhat wearied, 1 sat down in one of the court-
yards, and soon had five or six of the monks about me, with two
or three workmen and servants. One of the former, a man of
some fifty-four years of age, with a face full of curiosity, came up,
and with a very polite salutation said,
"I presume you are a Frenchman, sir?"
"No."
" No ! Oh, then you are an English officer ?"
" No, I am an American."
" Oh ! an American ! Pray how far is your honorable country
from England ?"
" It is about ten thousand le."
" Hi yah ! Ten thousand le ! What a vast distance !"
" Yes," said I, " it is a good distance ; and my country is distant
from the ' Central F'lowery Land' more than sixty thousand le."
" Prodigious ! More than sixty thousand le ! 1 presume your
Excellency has come to the Central Land to trade. I hope you
find the markets good."
" No, I have not come here to trade. I came here to propagate
religion."
"To what?" said he, looking puzzled.
" To propagate religion."
" Oh, I understand. To propagate religion. I congratulate
you, sir ! May I ask what is your religion?"
" I belong to the ' religion of Jesus.' We worship only one true
God, and believe on his son Jesus Christ. We do not worship
idols. What are these idols which you worship here? They
have eyes, but they cannot see ; they have ears, but they cannot
hear ; they have mouths, but they cannot speak ; they have hands
and feet, but can neither move their hands nor walk. What is the
use of worshipping such things?" During this short talk, my ques-
tioner was looking more and more confused, and as the last ques-
tion was put, a hearty laugh was raised by all around, in which
he also joined, adding, " True, true, what you say is perfectly cor-
rect." I went on somewhat farther to speak of the sinfulness of
man, our desert of punishment, the mercy of God, the mission of
Christ to the world, together with the consequent obligation im-
posed on us, to believe on him and secure our salvation : all of
which was listened to very respectfully, with numerous (thought-
less, it is to be feared, and hollow) expressions of assent. I
then took out some tracts, and gave them each one, wiiich were
politely received, and one of the younger monks looking at the
tract " Two Friends," remarked, " There were some foreigners
JOURNAL AT CHUSAN. 339
here several years ago, before the English came to Ningpo, who
left this tract here." He doubtless referred to the visit of Messrs.
Medhurst and Stevens, in 1836. Tea was now brought, and after
some further desultory conversation, I took my departure, exhibit-
ing as much poHteness as possible, which was returned with inter-
est by them. Before going a hundred yards, however, one of them
came running after me, calling out with a loud voice, " Your Ex-
cellency ! please stop a little." I waited for him, and when he
came up, all out of breath with his haste, he made a low bow and
said, " The great god in the temple where you have just been,
would be very much obliged by the donation of one small Canton
rupee, so small," he added, making a circle about as big as a rupee.
I told him I was very sorry not to oblige him, but the thing was
utterly impossible ; that I did not worship nor respect idols, nor
could I make any presents to them. With this assurance he pro-
fessed to be satisfied, and bowing, walked slowly back. But the
incident was painful, as showing their indifference to the truth. I
had the best evidence of their fully understanding and assenting
to what was said against idolatry, and yet in five minutes after
they could ask me to make an olfering to their gods !
The next morning 1 went around to several of the smaller mon-
asteries, but saw little in them of interest. In one, the monks were
so busy divining for some sailors, that they had not time to speak
to strangers ; in another, they were all gone to some other part of
the island, and in a third I found no person except one old monk,
suffering from disease. He was sitting in a sheltered verandah,
with a little boy waiting on him, and received me quite politely,
ordering tea to be brought. He said he was seventy-one years
old ; and was as intelligent a man as I met on the island. In an-
swer to my inquiries, he said that the beginning of the monastic
establishments on the island dated as far back as the Leang dy-
nasty, some eight hundred years ago ; but that the Seen-sz' and
the Ho\v-sz' were built in the Sung dynasty. The total number
of monks on the island, he affirmed, did not exceed seven or eight
hundred. I had been told the evening before, at the How-sz' that
there were fifteen hundred, but the old man's statement is proba-
bly correct. There are four large, and one hundred and two small
establishments on the island. Allowing one hundred monks for the
largest, and thirty for the other three, each, we have about two
hundred. All accounts agreed that in the smaller establishments
there were not over five or six in the average, being about seven
or eight hundred in all. This differs widely from the accounts of
former visitors, who make the number amount to " six thousand ;"
but I am satisfied that those accounts are much larger than is cor-
rect. There is not room in all the buildings on the island to ac-
commodate so many.
As the monk with whom I was now talking was old and sick,
and might soon die, I felt it to be a duty to point out to him, how-
ever imperfectly, the way of eternal life beyond the grave ; but
340 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
though he understood the most of what was said, and assented to it
as very good and proper, it seemed to make little impression upon
him. He said that after death he expected still to abide among
the hills of this island, which had now been his home for more
than fifty years. When asked how he expected to secure happi-
ness beyond the grave, he replied, "By worshipping Buddh, and
making many prayers." I set before him as well as I could the
way of life through Christ, — to which he listened attentively, and
remarked, "There were some foreigners here several years ago,
who taught the same doctrine that you do ;" referring doubtless to
the visit of Messrs. Medhurst and Stevens. On coming away I
gave him several tracts, which he received gratefully. Oh that
the truth which he has thus heard more than once, maybe blessed
to him, even in this the eleventh hour ! After stroUing about a
little longer, I left the island at eleven o'clock, a. m., and reached
Tinghai near sunset.
Thursday, October 23. Started with Mr. Loomis for a walk
across the island. Went through the long and narrow valley,
back of Tinghai, and up the steep hill behind it. We finally
came out into a noble plain, two miles, or two and a half miles
broad, and four or five miles long, all covered with rice, while the
neighboring hill-sides, for a great distance up, were cultivated with
buckwheat, sweet-potatoes, and other vegetables. This valley
appears to be even larger than that in which Tinghai is situated,
and has some ten or fiifteen villages at the foot of the hills around
it. Probably five thousand persons derive their subsistence from
it. A large part of the men of the valley were at a theatre in one
of the temples, and we took the opportunity to give away some
tracts, but found few who could read.
After going down to the sea-shore we went back, and arrived at
home about five o'clock, p. m., having walked twenty-one miles.
We were foot-sore, and wearied enough.
October 27. Returned to Ningpo ; but not reaching the place
till near midnight, found the city gates shut, and the watchmen
going their rounds. Obliged to remain in the boat all night.
November ,5, Walked some three miles or more down the bank
of the Ningpo river, which on the north-east side of the city makes
a remarkable bend, almost inclosing the ground on which the
English consulate stands. A canal half a mile long would save
six or seven miles sailing. There are vast numbers of graves on
this part of the Ningpo plain, though perhaps not more than may
be found in any other direction. They occupy many acres of
fertile soil, and cause one to doubl the truth of the remark so often
made, that "the Chinese seldom bury their dead except on the
sides of barren hills." This remark was generally found to be
true in the province of Canton, and in some parts of Fuhkeen, but
it is far from being correct in those of Keangsoo and Chehkeang.
About Shanghai the number of tumuli, or mounds, inclosing cof-
JOURNAL AT CHUSAN. 341
fins, is so great, that in some places they remind one of haycocks
in a newly-mown meadow, while about Ning-po there are thou-
sands of acres thus occupied. In the hills about Ningpo, none
of which are within ten miles of the city, there are comparatively
few tombs.
Nov. 22. The early part of this month was the season for the
harvest of the second crop of rice, and the farmers have now
nearly finished threshing it. The cotton is also gathered in, and
the wheat is in many places coming up, having been planted
early in the month. They do not sow it broadcast, but having
first prepared the ground in long beds, they drill holes at regular
intervals, with a heavy, sharp-pointed stone, and drop five or six
grains in each hole.
Nov. 26. Saw a wedding procession, which must have been
several hundred yards long, and numbered several hundreds of
people. A crowd of men and boys bearing banners and inscrip-
tions went in front, some trumpets and cymbals followed, then
seven or eight men on horseback, then a couple of officers, one
bearing a wliite, and the other a gilt button in their caps ; then
the bride's chair, a really beautiful article, elegantly painted, carv-
ed and gilded, borne by eight men ; but the bride was quite too
well inclosed to be seen ; then several men bearing ornamental
bedding-clothes and pillows, which form a part of the marriage
presents, and are always ostentatiously displayed; while no less
than twenty-one sedan chairs brought up the rear. The lady was
said to be the daughter of an officer of rank.
Dec. 1. I congratulated my teacher on the birth of his daughter.
"No, no, we do not congratulate here on the birth of a daughter."
"No! why not?' " Oh, they are a great expense, and very little
profit to us." This led to some conversation on the treatment of
females, and finally to the question, whether there was such a
thing as female infanticide in this part of the country, he replied
quickly, " No, not here, but there is in Canton, and in some parts
of Fulikeen." " Is there none at all here ?" " No, not in Ningpo,
but in the city of Funghwa, (a city about twenty miles off, and
under the jtuisdiction of tne Che-foo of Ningpo,) there is. It is
called neih-sz\ or death by drowning, for when the child is born,
if it be a girl, the parents or assistants often heap water on it, in
pretence of washing it, but in such a way that it dies !" He made
this statement very unwillingly, and with many exclamations of
horror, and finally added, "But of late years, since the Funghwa
people have begun to understand right reason and propriety, there
is none of it." Notwithstanding this assertion, there is sufficient
reason to suppose that this horrid custom prevails, not only in
Funghwa, but in other places in this province; but to nothing
like the extent in which it is conmion in some parts of Fuhkeen.
Dec. 11. A long and serious discussion with my teacher to-day
on some points in the systems of Confucius and Christ, particu-
larly in reference to human nature. Confucius and Mencius
342 MEMOIR OP WALTER M. LOWRIE.
teach that every man is born with a heart good and pure, and
that it is only by the influence of evil example, and the giving-
way to one's own wishes, that the heart becomes bad. They do
not suppose that it ever becomes totally depraved, but insist that
every man is able to rectify his own evil nature, by simply return-
ing to the principles of righteousness implanted in him. It is a
favorite expression of my teacher, that " the heart which heaven
gives us is pure;" and his comparison to illustrate it was, "a mir-
ror all clear and bright, reflecting perfectly the images of objects
presented to it. By degrees, through exposure to the air, neglect,
carelessness, or ill-usage, it becomes soiled, dirty and useless," and
his strong argument to uphold his position was, " If you tell men
that their nature is bad, they will at once turn round on you and
say, 'Since our nature is bad, then we can do nothing to correct,
it, and may as well go on in sin.' " It was to avoid this reply
that Mencius insisted so much on the doctrine of the natural
goodness of man's heart. Another argument he used was, "It
cannot be supposed that heaven would give a man a bad heart."
The natural and correct answer, " Man was created upright, but
fell by his own sin, and drew his posterity after him," he seemed
to think unsatisfactory.
Discoursing still farther on the nature of good and evil, he gave
it as his opinion, that if a man obeyed his parents and his prince,
avoided theft, robbery, and licentiousness, and was kind to his
neighbors, such a man should be called a good man. When
asked were all men of this character, he replied, " No, but there
are some such." When asked how many men were outwardly
moral, whose morality was caused more by the fears of the law,
and the opinion of men, than by any regard for virtue, as such, he
rephed, '' Such men are not very numerous. I suppose in ten
thousand, nine thousand and nine hundred have no regard for
virtue as such." " Could such men be considered as good men?"
" No, they could hardly be called good men, yet neither were
they worthy to be called bad." " What do you think of their
heart, their motives? Can these be called good?" "Mr. Low-
rie," said he, half angrily, " why do you talk about the heart so
much ? Why do not you content yourself with saying that men
should do good, and hve virtuously, without troubling yourself
about the heart, which nobody can see?" "Because the religion
of Christ, unlike that of Confucius and Mencius, teaches as one
of its first truths, that the heart is bad and must be changed, the
nature defiled and must be renovated, before a man can enter
heaven." " Oh ! that's very different from the doctrine we beheve,
and I do not see the use of talking so nmch about the heart. Be-
sides," he added, ^'- 1 understand the doctrine of Jesiis thoroitghly,
a great deal better than you do that of Confucius. I have read
two or three volumes of your books, and think it all very good.
Christ taught just the same that Confucius does, that man should
do what is riglit, — there may be some little points of difference,
LETTERS. 343
but in all the essentials the doctrine of the two is the same." The
singular contradictions of these sentences show the character of the
Chinese mind, unwilling- to admit the truth of a doctrine so un-
palatable to the human heart, and yet too polite to persist in open
contradiction of a friend.
My teacher is one of the " wise of this world." A more learned
man than is common, though a school-boy might justly laugh at
his knowledge of multitudes of things, he has a high opinion of
himself and his own intellect, and it is easy to see that he enter-
tains much contemjit for the humbling doctrines of the cross.
What can man do without the aid of the Almighty? Already he
knows not quite so nmch as he thinks he does, but quite enough
of the way of salvation to be saved, but it is foolishness to him.
Neither can he know it aright. Oh for the life-giving Spirit to
breathe on these dry bones, and make them live !
A slight spitting of snow to-day, the first I have seen for nearly
four years.
Dec. 14. A fall of snow last night, which whitened the ground,
and made things look as natural as in former days.
NiriQ'po, November 1st, 1845.
To THE Society of Inquiry, Princeton Theological
Seminary.
Dear Brethren— In a letter from the Corresponding Secretary
of your Committee on Foreign Missions, dated October 16th, 1844,
which has been lying by me since April 19th, 1845, there are
three definite questions and a carle blanche^ the answers and
''filling up" of all of which would occupy more time and paper
than I have to spare ; and, probably, more patience than you have
to give. Perhaps I shall not err in answering the questions first,
and then adding what may come uppermost, or find room.
In regard to Morrison's translation of the Bible into Chinese, a
singular misconception has long prevailed among the supporters
of missions, both in England and America. It is not three years
since one of the warmest, and generally speaking, one of the best
informed friends of missions in England, asserted, in opposition to
the united and unanimous voice of the Protestant Missionaries in
China, that "Morrison's translation of the Scriptures was nearly
perfect, and another was unnecessary." This was, to say the least,
rather a venturesome remark from one who did not know a word
of Chinese ! . . .
I can answer your question, "Is the translation useful or intel-
ligible?" by saying it is useful, but is not adapted for general cir-
culation. When we are explaining the Scripture history or
doctrine in private conversation, it is of use, because it is sullicient-
ly intelligible, with such cautions and explanations as we can
give orally, to give those with whom we speak a fuller idea of the
truth. It is of use to give to our converts, for you know the
344 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
converted man finds good when the impenitent turns away in dis-
gust ; and the converts will naturally come to us for explanation.
And it is also of use to those who may prepare a new translation.
But it is not, as I think, adapted for general circulation, nor would
I willingly give a copy to a heathen, except under favorable cir-
cumstances. These same remarks apply in great measure to Dr.
Marshman's translation, which was finished about the same time
with Morrison's, and has never had an extensive circulation.
You also ask, " What progress has been made towards remedy-
ing its defects?" A good deal as regards the New Testament ;
but as it regards the Old, almost none. We have two other trans-
lations of the New Testament ; one by Gutzlaff, which is not
much used ; and another by Medhurst, assisted by John R. Morri-
son, Bridgman, and others. The latter is the one in common use ;
and it is in general intelligible and good, though paraphrastic
sometimes, and far fiom being perfect. A number of the mission-
aries, both English and American, are now engaged in a revision
of it ; but it may be several years before it is completed. When
the Old Testament will be revised and published, I have no idea.
I hope to live to see the time, and, perhaps, to take some part in
it, but it will not be soon. There is a great work yet to be done
in this respect, and perhaps some of you may be called to assist in
it. The translation of the Scriptures into Chinese is a great,
difficult, and most important work, and the preparation of Com-
ments and Notes upon them will require the labors of many men
for many years. You can have but little idea of the strange
notions they gather from expressions that are as common to us as
the air we breathe. . . .
T have gone over the Gospel of Luke very carefully w ith my
teacher, who passes for a learned man in Ningpo, and his mistakes
and misconceptions have been both amusing and painful. This
arises in part from the imperfection of the translation; in part
from an utter and characteristic ignorance of the geography and
history of every other nation but China; in part from the use of
figures and comparisons unknown in China. Some people say
"The Bible is an Oriental book, and the Chinese are an Oriental
people, therefore, they can easily understand it. But unfortunate-
ly the Chinese are as much beyond " the East'' on one side as
America is on the other ; and therefore the remark is very un-
founded, in part from inattention and want of interest in the sub-
ject, and in part from the " thick darkness" which idolatry and
superstition have enshrouded even the mental, and much more
the moral perceptions. Oh brethren ! if you were here but a few
days, you would understand something of the necessity for the
Spirit's influences to open the understanding, and pour light into
the heart; and of the feelings of the prophet, when commanded
to prophesy to the dry bones. Pray for us. So deep is the " veil
of the covering cast over" the minds of the heathen, that were it
not for what God can do, the Missionary enterprise would be as
LETTERS. 345
fantastic a scheme of folly as the brain of man ever devised. If it
were not for the hope, the belief of what God will do, I would not
be a missionary for another day. It requires but a few years' ex-
perience in the missionary field to learn thafit is not talents nor
learning, important as these are, but piety and prayer, that are
chiefly requisite in a missionary. "Not by might nor by power,
but by my spirit, saith the Lord." Oh tliat my own heart and
practice were more deeply influenced by this conviction, and that
the churches at home felt it more.
You ask for "my impressions regarding the climate of China."
Having not yet had a full experience of the climate so far north
as my present residence. I cannot answer you so fully as may be
desirable ; but what I know is briefly as follows : In the Canton
province, and the climate at Amoy is not materially different,
warm weather prevails for nine months in the year ; of which
four or five are oppressive, while the months of December, Jan-
uary, and February, are pleasant and cool. The natives and the
Portuguese at Macao do not use fires in their houses, but the
English and Americans find them very agreeable. During three
years, the lowest I ever saw the thermometer was 4.5°, while it
generally in the cool weather ranged between 50° and 60° of Fahren-
heit. I never used a cloak but once or twice, except in my room,
where, as I sat without a fire, it was needful. In the long warm
seasons my health suffered, and I became languid and thinner
than usual, in August and September. Most persons suffer in the
same way, but the winter or rather the cool weather, for ice and
snow are almost never seen, is invigorating, and many enjoy bet-
ter health than in their own land. I consider the climate at
Macao and Canton as decidedly healthy ; and expecting the in-
disposition above referred to, which, however, never confined me a
whole day to the couch, I never was better at home. The circum-
stances which have made Amoy and Hong Kong unhealthy, I do
not think will have a permanent influence ; nor should I have the
slightest hesitation or fear in going to either of these places. It
would seem, however, from facts already observed, that northern
men bear the climate better than southern, though reasoning a
priori many would think differently.
In Shanghai and Ningpo, the climate is different. We have
pleasant, cool, and cold weather, for nine months, and warm
weather for three, July and August, and parts of June and Sep-
tember. Of the warm weather six weeks are uncomfortably hot,
if anything, worse than at Macao. I have not yet had the pleas-
ure of experiencing the cold weather here in its perfection, though
I retain a vivid recollection of the coldness of my fingers and ears
on approaching Shanghai in March, when the cold weather was
nearly over, and of the strange sensations excited, by seeing my
breath come out in thick steam, and sleepmg under a load of bed-
clothes, things to which I had been a stranger for more than three
years. The thermometer falls below 25° ; ice and snow are seen
346 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
every winter ; and fur clothes, which are cheap and good, are
worn to an extent that would surprise you. Yet even liere, the
inhabitants do not use fires, but content themselves with abund-
ance of cotton garments, (ten and fifteen jackets worn at once are
not uncommon,) wadded clothes, and furs, with small foot-stove-,
and finger-stoves. But I do not see how we can do without fires.
The climate is subject to frequent and considerable changes. I
have seen the thermometer rise from 34° to 84° in a few days in
March, and fall back to 40° in forty hours ; and after experiencing
warm weather in June, I have put on woollen stockings in July.
A fall of twenty degrees in a few hours is not uncommon, and is
sensibly felt. It is now quite cool, the thermometer being below
sixty, except in the middle of the day ; and the merchants' shops
present a busy and rich scene, from the {[uantity of fine furs dis-
played in them. I am looking forward with some interest to the
return of snow and ice, things which I liave not seen for nearly
four years. My impressions of the climate of Niligpo are very
favorable, though the last summer being cooler than usual, did
not afford a very good opportunity of knowing precisely what it is.
.... There are also two or three disagreeably damp seasons in
the summer, of two or three weeks' continuance, when rain pours
down in torrents ; and if it does not rain, you feel as if the very
air was damp and cloudy ; and the perspiration will gather on the
stones in the wall, even when the sun is shining outside. Such
weather is hard on books, clothes, and animal spirits ; but it is
of short continuance.
We get plenty to eat here, but not a very great variety, as the
inhabitants have not yet learned to provide for foreigners, as they
have at Macao and Canton. Goat's flesh, pork, hams, chickens,
ducks, and geese, are our principal meats ; though in winter, wild-
ducks, pheasants, and hares, are cheaper than anything else.
Fish of several kinds we have all the year round ; wheat, rice,
and a little buck-wheat, form the staff of life ; sweet potatoes,
turnips, egg-plants, bean sprouts, bamboo sprouts, taro, beans, peas,
Kaou-hah, onions, and greens, are our chief vegetables ; and for
fruits we have peaches, pears, plums, lichees, persimmons, pome-
granates, and oranges, with walnuts, chestnuts, and pea-nuts.
You will say, " This is a goodly list." True, and we are thank-
ful to enjoy so many of God's good gifts here ; nor do we com-
plain when we remember that few of them are so good as those
you eat in the United States ; while beef, such at least as may be
called good, Irish potatoes, and apples, are seldom seen. I have
tasted none of either in many months, nor apples, which are
worth all the oranges of China, for years ; nor do we get all these
things at once. I find in my market-book, (for we bachelors have
to attend to such things ourselves oftentimes,) that for weeks to-
gether. Dr. McCartee and I sat down together to a table, of which
the chief dishes were, chickens, or fish, bamboo sprouts, turnips,
and bean sprouts, with bread, rice, and eggs. It is hard to say
LETTERS. 347
what we should do without eggs ! When the egg-plants came
we were delighted, and when the sweet potatoes were fit to eat,
we were satisfied ! The married missionaries do not fare any-
better than we bachelors, though they doubtless have some things
nicer !
For the particularity of the above statements, I do not think it
necessary to make any apology, though the pronoun "I," occurs
with a frequency that is somewhat startling ; perhaps it may be
some excuse, that they are written in answer to the question,
"What are my impressions?"
'~ Your last question, " The magnitude of the field and the pros-
pects of the mission?" is one on which a volume might be written,
but the space already consmned warns me to be brief, the more so
as I may have an occasion hereafter to refer to it. I can only say
this : Few have any idea of the extent of the ground that is
opened and opening to our labors, and none know where the
things will end, whose beginnings we have hved to witness. The
opening of China to foreign intercourse, is an event which finds
few parallels in the history of the world. This country is a world
in itself; and the thought has often occurred to me, while travers-
ing its beautiful plains and crowded streets, "What a world has
been revolving here of which Christendom knows nothing !" I
have been led to make excursions of twenty or thirty miles into
the interior, from each of the cities of Amoy, Shanghai, and
Ningpo, and everywhere the country is like a vast beehive, swarm-
ing with inhabitants. It is the same about Canton, where I have
also been, and doubtless the same about Foo-chow. I have not
known what it is to be out of sight of a human habitation since
I have been in China, and where there is one there is commonly
ten. I have scarcely ever seen a httle valley, or a hollow among
the hills, where industry could cultivate a bed of rice, or a crop of
greens, that was not occupied. It is scarcely an exaggeration to
say, that temples and monasteries are as common here as farm-
houses in Pennsylvania, and I have seen the streets of Ningpo
crowded with many ten thousands of people, to see an idolatrous
procession in honor of "all the gods." Now all this vast and
teeming population of idolaters must have the gospel, or perish.
Books will not do the work. It is the living teacher who must
speak unto them the words of life. Such is the field we cultivate.
As to our prospects, you have them in the concluding verses of
Psalm cxxvi. :
They that sow in tears,
With shoutings shall gather the harvest.
Going he shall go, even with weeping, burdened with the seed to be sown :
Coming he shall come, and with shouting, burdened with his sheaves. i
It is nearly midnight, and I must draw to a close witliout refer-
ring to other topics, which, if this letter were not already full
enough, might be of interest. Full notices of the mission you
348 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
will probably see in the Chioiiicle before long, and I have omitted
tiieni here.
Bretiiren, whatever your own course may be, whether to come
to the missionary field, or to cultivate the vineyard of the Lord at
home, there is one thing we pray you to bear in mind, "It is God
who giveth the increase," and if success do not attend one's labor,
the reason wmU probably be found in the fact that he is not inquired
of by his people respecting this thing, to do it for them. Pray
for us.
I am yours in the bonds of the Gospel,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Ningpo, December 5th, 1845.
'My Dear Father —
.... I have my commentary on Luke, which with the text will
make a handsome volume of a hundred pages, ready for the press,
and trust it will be of use. The style is pure and good Chinese,
for it is written by my teacher, and I know the sentiments to be
correct, thougii sometimes not as full or clear as I could have
wished. My teacher said to me, I suppose, twenty times w^iile
preparing it, "How can you expect us to understand this book? /
do not understand it, who have been reading books all my life, and
how can less learned persons comprehend it?" The doctrines,
historical allusions, geography, customs, e. g., washing the feet,
comparisons, everything is strange ; and when joined to an imper-
fect translation, it is not to be thought that a careless heathen can
understand such a book. At the risk of being thought a heretic,
I must say I think the oft-repeated phrase, '• The Bible without
note or connnent," is in danger of being pushed so far, as to fall
over and do harm. However true it is and correct under limita-
tions, it is not correct in itself. It is not true in fact, that our peo-
ple at home read it "without note or connnent;" for there is no
one who does not hear many a note and comment from parent,
teacher, friend or minister, and there are few who do not form
their opinions of most of it from such "notes and comments."
If these and innumerable commentaries besides, are needed in a
land of so much light as America, what must be the case in
China ? " Without note and comment" is true, so far as authori-
tative and infallible exposition is intended ; and also, if it be
meant that the simple text, when understood, is to be carefully
studied and pondered in the Christian hours of devotion ; but I
humbly conceive there is danger if it be extended much beyond
these limits. However, I ought to reflect that you have thought
on the subject long enough, not to need such a " lesson" from me.
... I was deeply grieved to hear of the accident you met, but
thankful it was no worse. How many strange accidents we
miss, within a hair's-breadth of them, though unawares. We
shall doubtless often wonder when we get to heaven, and look
LETTERS. 349
back on our past life, that, amidst so many dangers it was pro-
longed so long.
.... After a good deal of thought, I am about setthng down to
the o]iit)ion, tiiat I ought to aim at a pretty full knowledge of
books and writing in Chinese. In a mission so large as ovns, and
where we have a press, there must be some one tolerably at home
on some points. Now, I have been so circumstanced, as to be
obliged to turn my thoughts much that way, somev\'hat to the
disadvantage of my speaking fluently, and I am so still. I have
laid such a foundation of acquaintance with the written lan-
guage, as enables me to go on with some ease, and such as the
otiier brethren can scarcely be expected to do in some time. They
are accordingly outstripping me in the colloquial, though I have
the advantage in the books, and can easily keep it up. My edu-
cation and previous habits are also such as fit me more for this
than for mingling among men, unless actually obliged to do so.
I propose, therefore, not to neglect the colloquial, but to lay out a
good portion of my strength on reading and writing Chinese.
Keeping in view, chiefly, the translation of the Scriptures, and
works explanatory of them, and perhaps the preparation of ele-
mentary books, and it may be a dictionary, a thing we are greatly
in want of What do you think of this plan? You will not
think I mean to neglect the great work of preaching, for I trust
to be able in the course of next year to undertake regular ser-
vices. I might do it now, if I had no accounts to keep, letters to
write, and advice and assistance to give to others, especially in
the matter of the printing office. That you may see how much
I have been hindered one way and another since coming to China, I
may say that though it is nearly four years since I left you, yet I
have had a teacher, and by consequence have been studying the
language efiectively, only twenty-three months, and of those,
three are hardly worth counting from the interruptions 1 met. I
sometimes felt quite discouraged, and now feel ashamed to think
I have been here so long, and done so little ....
With many affectionate remembrances and prayers,
I am, as ever, your affectionate son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
JS'wgpo, December 31st, 1845.
My Dear Father —
.... I have to-day finished a first revision of a little Tract on
the Sabbath. It will be only four or five pages, and consists of
Gen. i., and some remarks on the Sabbath, with the Fourtii and
Second Commandments ; all of which I first put into such Chinese
as I was able, and then submitted to my teacher for a thorough
revision. He had previously read Morrison's Gen. i. ; and after
reading mine, made without any comparison with Morrison's, I
asked which he would rather use for revision. "Oh," said he, "it
350 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
don't make much difference, they are both very obscure !" He
found no difficulty, however, in understanding the subsequent
remarks, when I was not tied down to a form of words, and
even deigned to tell me. that two or three sentences were correct !
1 thought it quite a compliment, for he is very proud of the
excellencies of Chinese literature. However, in writing it over,
he left very little of the poor thing in the dress I had given it at
first. I almost despair at times of ever getting through the laby-
rinth of Chinese literature. How glad I am that it was not my
own choice that brought me here. The remembrance of the way
by which I have been led, often holds me up, when I should fail,
if I thought I had chosen the path for myself
It is tolerably cool just now ; we have had frost in nearly every
night for three weeks past, and I find overcoat, cloak, foot-stove,
and finger-stove only enough to keep me going.
It is hard work writing sometimes, for I can scarcely keep my
fingers warm ; but these are very minor affairs, so I will not
trouble you any more.
It is drawing near to eleven o'clock, p. m., and as I do not feel
like seeing the old year out, nor soliloquizing about it, I will close.
But I cannot help asking. Where are you all now, and how
engaged ?
I am as ever, your affectionate son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
CHAPTER VIII.
1846.
MISSIONARY LABORS AT NINGFO — HEATHEN CUSTOMS — WORSHIP — SUPERSTITIOUS
FEARS — PREACHING IN CHINESE.
During this year the missions in China were further strength-
ened by the arrival at Canton of the Rev. John B. French, and
the Rev. WilHam Speer and his wife, and at Ningpo, of the Rev.
J. W. Q,uarteraian. The British troops were this year withdrawn
from Chusan, and as the Chinese authorities would not permit
foreigners to reside there, Mr. Loomis and his wife removed to
Ningpo.
Mr. Lowrie's study of the Chinese language, while in Macao, as
already stated, was much interrupted by the business matters of
the different missions. The Mandarin dialect, which he studied
at Macao, is not spoken in the south of Cliina, and hence he could
converse in it with his teacher only. This he found to be a seri-
ous disadvantage. The Ningpo and Mandarin dialects are as dif-
ferent from each other as the French is from the Spanish. In
learning to speak the former, he had therefore to begin anew, with
the advantage however of hearing it daily spoken by the inhabi-
tants. But here also his time was a good deal taken up with the
business of the Ningpo Mission, and correcting the proof-sheets of
works issued from the press. So many, and such long-continued
adverse circumstances, at times almost produced discouragement
in his own mind, as it regarded the spoken language. But even
in it his progress was not slow ; in less than eighteen months he
commenced preaching in Chinese. His knowledge of the written
language was more satisfactory to himself. In August he wrote
several es-^ays, which were published in the Chinese Repository,
on the proper Chinese words to be used in translating the name
of God into Chinese. These were among the first pieces that were
published on the side of the question so ably sustained since by
Doctors Boone and Bridgeman.
352 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
In September he commenced (lie piepaiation of a dictionary of
the " Four Books," and afterwards he decided to inchide also the
" Five Classics." These books contain the body of the Chinese
language, and if his life had been spared, he would no doubt have
made it a dictionary of the whole language. He became much
interested in this work, and had even to guard himself against
being drawn aside from his appropriate work of preaching the
gospel.
The letters and journals of this period throw much light on the
interior working of the mission at Ningpo, and still further tend
to elucidate the state and condition of the native population.
Other subjects are occasionally adverted to. One of much import-
ance, in relation to the return of missionaries, is noticed in a letter
to one of the members of the Executive Committee. It would be
out of place here to examine the views there presented ; but the
wliole subject is worthy of far more consideration than it has yet
received from the Church at home.
N'uigpo, January 1st, 1846.
A happy New Year to you, my dear mother, and very many of
them ! is a wish that, if I had the power, would certainly be
accomplished; and yet, though I might have the power, I might
not have the wisdom necessary to make it a blessing. So I will
change it to the prayer, that He who knows what is best for us,
and loves us far better than any earthly friend can love another,
would give you such length of days, and such enjoyment therein
as will make you most useful here, and most blessed hereafter.
New Year's morning ! Although it be only an arbitrary distinc-
tion that makes this day more important than any other of the
year, for each day is the point of "confluence of two eternities,"
yet consent has erected it into a sort of elevation to look back over
the past, so rapidly fading from view, and to strain our weak eyes
into the unknown future. How little we can know of the one,
and how feebly we estimate the importance of the other !
Although I always look iorward to the New Year with some
such feelings as these, yet it always takes me by surprise, and I
find it difficult in looking back to the last one to realize the events
that have occurred and passed away. How many events must
have occurred in your larger circle of friends. Here, few as are
those I know, yet 1 find strange alterations in the last year. A
fellow-passenger in the Huntress (Mr. King) died, and was buried
in the Red Sea. One of my warmest friends, Mrs. Sword, has
been called home. She was always exceedingly afraid to die, and
yet when called away, though fully sensible of it, fear had entirely
departed, and peace reigned. It makes me feel desolate sometimes
LETTERS. 353
to think of such friends departing', and she is not the only one
whom the last year has removed me from, though the others are
not dead, but only farther off, and to remember again that I am a
stranger in tlie earth ; but then it is pleasant, too, for the separa-
tion is but temporary. I have no patience with those stoics who
maintain that we shall not know our friends in heaven. Certain-
ly the Spirit of Christ alone would fill our cup of joy even to over-
flowing, but why should not those who in tears and tcmplations
and prayers served him here, and encouraged each other in the
upward course, rejoice with joy unspeakable together there? We
shall remember the way by which we were led tiu'ough this "great
and terrible wilderness," and shall we forget the kind words
spoken, the cup of water, the look of affection and encouragement
more eloquent than words, and more soothing than the sweetest
harmony I I do not believe it. Christ saul to his disciples that
those wlio had "continued with him in his temptations,'' should
sit with him in his glory, and if we hold communion with Him in
this respect, why not with one another? We sliall iiave bodies
as well as souls in heaven, "spiritual" it is true, but "bodies"
still; we shall have human affections, too, freed from all sin ; and
if such affections form our sweetest and most satisfying solace
here, what will they be there? But I did not mean to write all
this, for I was thinking of other things when I commenced.
Here I am, after voyaging and tossing about again on the rough
sea. I am now settled down in the field I have long been looking
to. I have made some little progress in the language, and begin
to feel at home among the people; but sliall I remain here? I
do not know why it is, but I seem constantly to have a voice say-
ing, "Arise, this is not your rest!" Nor should I be surprised at
any time to receive an order to depart. Yet as such feelings are
not the rule by which we are to be guided, I endeavor to work on
as if this were to be my earthly home ; and be my abode long or
short, to be in readiness when He comes, whose coming will not
tarry.
My teacher has just come in, and knowing that this is our new
year, he has been cogitating a salutation for me, wiiich was as
follows. Seen sang, shangte pongdzooe ne taou teendong cheaw,
"Sir, may God assist you and enable you to arrive at heaven!"
I was not a little surprised and gratified too, for I never heard him
utter such a sentiment before. Oh that the wish, which in
politeness he made for me, were fulfilled in reality to him I If he
were but a Christian, or if I might but see him one, it seems to
me I should almost be ready to depart in peace; for his talents
and acquirements are such, that if they were sanctified they would
be invaluable. But alas, he is proud of his learning, temporizing
in his policy, and averse to know the plague of his own heart.
The doctrine of human depravity, he cannot away with ; it is a
very abomination to him, and after all the instructions he has re-
ceived, if he repents not, how much greater will be his condemna-
23
354
MEMOIR OF WALTER xM. LOWRIE.
tion. I fear we shall prove a "savor of death unto death," to
more than we shall be the means of saving', in this land. . . .
Believe me, as ever, yours in kind remembrances,
And sincere affection, W. M. Lowrie.
Ningpo, January 17th, 1846.
My Dear Mother —
It is Saturday night, and though I might doubtless find some
Chinese study to occupy me during the hours that remain before
bed-time, yet I have an idea that a letter to you would be quite as
agreeable to myself, and more acceptable to you. I have been
moving this week, and now feel pretty well settled in my new
abode, having to-day done nearly all 1 intend, for the purpose of
makhig it comfortable. On Monday it will be four years since I
left home, and this is the first week since then that I have been in
a house I could, properly speaking, call my own. Even here, I
am only in " my own hired house," but I hope it will be " two full
years" at least before I have to leave it. While in Macao and
elsewhere, I have scarcely known from one month's end to another,
where I should be in two months more. So you may think I
begin to feel somewhat "settled."
Would you like a description of my house? Here it is. It is
situated in the " Howse," or back street, between the Salt Gate
and the East Gate, and within four minutes' walk of the busiest
[)art of the city. The street itself has few shops, but it is a great
thoroughfare. The house is separated from the east wall only by
a narrow lane, and by the aid of a pile of rubbish close by, I can
get up on the wall without diflficulty. It looks toward the south-
west, or rather west-south-west. But please inspect this plan of
the house, which will give you a better idea of it.
This is the ground
This wall is about nine feet high. g^^^. Entering by the
great door, is the front
court, stone paved, about
thirty by fifteen feet.
Nos. 1 and 2 are small
chambers, perhaps ten
by eight, which I have
no particular use for.
Nos. 3 and 7 are pas-
sage ways, in each of
which is a stair-case to
go up stairs, but the stair-case in No. 7 is not used just now. In
No. 4 I keep my Chinese tracts, &c., and my teacher has a table
where he sits and writes. At present the servants sleep in No. 6.
No. 8 is the kitchen, and No. 9 is a private place. The back
court is about twenty by six feet. No. 5 is the reception hall,
where is a table, four chairs, and some Chinese pictures, all of
3
^ i
(i»(.;< rcu!-"
8
4
;!0
7
5
G
PORTICO
FRONT COURT
D
2
1
This wall is about twelve feet high.
LETTERS.
355
which together cost less than five dollars. It is only an earthen
floor, as are all the lower parts except Nos. 4 and 6. No. 10 is
a little room of no particular use, but does very well for boxes, &c.
Please come up stairs.
No. 1 is the stair-way and lit- f^ — b — i — b — T — b ~. — b b"
tie passage annexed ; 2 is a
store-room or spare-room ; 3 is
my bed-room ; and 4 is my par-
lor, study, and dining-room ;
AAA are doors ; b b b windows,
at present nailed up ; c c c are windows with only window-shut-
ters ; D D D are windows with six panes of glass each. Please now
to sit down in my parlor and look around.
The room is about eitjhteen
a
0
Li
D^^ E\
feet square, being the largest in
the house, tlie rootus below are
deeper but not so wide. In this
room the back windows, b b, are
nailed up ; I shall open them in
summer, s is my fire-place, a
great awkward concern. I mean
to take it away when the
weather grows mild, and put another between b b. o is a little
table ; r, a couch ; w w, two Chinese book-cases, one filled with
Mr. L's. present of the books of the Board of Publication ; t is my
round centre and dining table; m is ni}'^ study table; and n is a
little table to keep my case of books in every-day use, to wit,
Morrison's Dictionary, &c. The door a I keep shut, as it is of no
use. In summer I think of having the stairs to come up where
the fire-place is. This will cut oflT some of my room, but it will be
greatly more convenient, and will obviate the necessity of coming
up through the store-room and bed-room.
In my bed-room I have a single bedstead, bureau, a Macao book-
case full of books, wash-stand, and the mission money-chest, be-
sides one or two trunks; and in the store-room only some two or
three boxes of my damaged books. So you have been all through
my house ; it is rather too good for me, but I could not get any
other, and I was tired of living- in the temple, which was out of the
way, and not very pleasant in some respects. The house is large
too, but then I can the more easily accommodate a friend. The
rent is nine dollars a month, and I have had no little trouble about
it this week, but it is all settled now I believe.
I am sorry you put yourself to the trouble of getting the maple-
sugar. I will tell you what I do want though, very much indeed,
and that is two of the best rat-traps that a missionary ought to
possess. What big rats there are here. One end of ray blanket
happened to fall on the floor, and the rats gnawed a hole in it. It
is the only blanket I have got, and I cannot afford to have it eaten
by rats. Well. I awoke during the night, and behold, a party of
356 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
rats were dancing a jig on my bed-room floor. I dare say, if you
would send me half a dozen good rat-traps, I could dispose of them
all, for I am not the only sufferer ; but do send me two, and I will
send you the first pretty vase I can find. I hope father will not
laugh at all this. . . .
Ever affectionately yours,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Ningpo, February 3d, 1846.
Rev. Levi Janvier —
Dear Brother : — Your very welcome letter of March and
April reached me September 9, in the midst of our annual meeting
here. I had not intended to defer writing so long, but being sec-
retary, and having to copy all the minutes twice, write the annual
report, and a copy of it, the circular of the mission, and other
things besides, I have had little time or inclination for any corres-
pondence that I could at all postpone. I wish I had some way of
diminishing my correspondence, for it forms a pretty serious part
of my work here. I do not mean with you, and such as you, for
that is a relaxation and a pleasure ; but I am sometimes quite as-
tonished to find how much time is taken in writing to persons of
whom I know little or nothing. I find a hundred copies of the
circular of the mission not more than sutRcient for my wants.
Why do I have so riiany ? you will say. Because I cannot help
it. Some I do not want to give up ; some do not want me to give
them up ; and to some I can do a little good by writing, and per-
haps exert some good influence on them. But enough of this.
I was very sorry to hear of the death of your little boy. I saw
it, I think, in the Friend of India, before you wrote. I trust your
little girl is still spared to you. As to myself, I am still enjoying
the blessedness of single life, having a whole house to "Fanny"
(my dog) and myself, with two Chinese servants, who speak not
a word of English, and not another foreigner within a mile of me,
and often for a day or two, or more, not seeing the face of one.
But with all these advantages, I am making but poor progress in
this language. I am hoping, within the present year, to be able
to commence preaching. You, I suppose, are quite fluent by this
time, in your new tongue, as you talk about " preaching." How-
ever, I should have been preaching before now, had I all the time
since coming to China enjoyed half the advantages for learning the
language that I do now.
The weather here is real winter. For twelve days in succes-
sion, we had ice every night more than an inch thick. We have
had two or three light falls of snow, and a fire is very comfortable,
and I suppose will be so for two months yet. The lowest we have
had the thermometer has been 20°, but it generally ranges from
35° to 44° or 46°. I have not seen it above the latter point for
more than two months, except in the middle of the sunshiny days.
LETTERS. 357
.... Did you ever examine 2 Cor. ii. 14 — 17? I preached on it
yesterday, and it is a very solemn and almost awful subject, full
of consolation, and yet full of terror. Since writing to you last, 1
have adopted many of the millenarian views, in regard to the sec-
ond advent of Christ, return of the .Tews, &c., and they seem to
make many things in tlie history of missions that were dark be-
fore, much more plain and encouraging. I find much satisfaction
in them, and often long inexpressibly for the " coming and appear-
ing" of our Lord. Oh, to be found doing his work when he comes,
and not idling in the field to which he has sent me ! With my
Christian regards to your wife and associates, believe me,
Ever yours in the gospel and the ministry of Christ,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Ningpo, February 22d, 1846.
My Dear Father —
Your very welcome letter of August 4, came to hand January
26. The other articles sent at the same time, have not yet been
received. I am exceedingly grateful to you for the copy of the
"Exploring Expedition." I had been longing for a copy, and had
it at m}' finger's end to send for it several times, but 1 was really
ashamed to do so. I have received so many things from you and
others, that it seems as if I ought not to get any more. Indeed, I
often think I fare far better even in temporal things, than if I had
stayed at home, and the load of obligations to my heavenly Father
is often almost greater than I can bear. A sense of my own un-
profitableness and uselessness, while receiving so many mercies,
has made me feel very unhappy.
In learning to read this diificult language, I am getting on tol-
erably well — a multitude of petty occupations, coimected with the
press, correcting font of type, accounts, &.c., keeps me from giving
much time to composition.
I commenced a Chinese letter to you on my birthday, the 8th
inst., but found it so hard that 1 gave it over, after a sentence or
two, and have not since had time to resume it. However, I will
try and send you one soon.
I have read carefully your remarks on Millenarianism, and the
article in the Chronicle, in which there is much that I believe, and
some things from which I might differ. I think the expression
avfieleiuv xov umtvov a very different one from xelog tov xoawou, and
it is a mystery to me how our going to the Lord at death, can be
equivalent to his •' coming to us," which he commands us to watch
for. The fact that there is such a remarkable difference between
the phraseology of the New Testament, and the phraseology of
Christians, strikes me as very strange. Christ and the apostles
constantly exhort to prepare, to watch for the coming of the Lord ;
but most people say, "watch for the coming of death." I do not
think these two are the same thing. I have looked death in the
358 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
face, and by the great grace of Christ, could do so without fear;
but I could not say to death what we are taught to say to Christ,
" Come Lord Jesus, come quickly."
I have no doubt, that until the awii-leux rov uiuipov, the present
means, and only the present means for the conversion of sinners,
are to be used. I think he would do very wrong who would say,
that "The world will not be conveiled by these means, and there-
fore we need not use them," for though I do not expect the world
to be converted during the present dispensation, by such lueans,
yet I do expect that all the elect, be they few or many, will, by
the foolishness of preaching, be saved. The elect, too, during the
present dispensation, are scattered throughout the known world,
and millenarianism, as I have embraced it, luakes it peculiarly the
duty of the church to go throughout the world and carry tlie gos-
pel, for until the gospel is preached unto all nations, the milleniura
cannot come. What means shall be used after the coming of
Christ, I do not pretend to say. They may be the present means,
though that does not seem to be clearly revealed. But if they are
the present means, there must be a power and efficiency given to
them, such as was not witnessed even on the day of pentecost ;
otherwise, I do not see how the promises are to be fulfilled. Still
I do not pretend to make my weak vision the measure of omnip-
otence.
I do not think there will ever be any revelation from God sub-
verting the present Bible, but I do not see what there is in the
Bible saying that no further revelation will be given, or why we
may not expect a revelation as much in advance of the Christian
as the Christian is in advance of the Levitical. Certainly, when
" the people are all righteous," when " there are none to hurt or
destroy in all the holy mountain," it would sound strange to hear
a sermon on the text, " Broad is the gate, many go in thereat ;
strait is the way, few walk therein :" (I only quote the sense.)
When "Kings are nursing fathers, queens nursing mothers, and
great the peace of thy people," although it will be profitable to look
back to the times of trial, yet it can hardly be said, that " all that
will live godly shall suffer persecution." When Satan is " bound,"
even if only a figurative binding, he can hardly be said to " go
about as a roaring lion." Now the greater part of the New Tes-
tament is intended for times of trial, just as the greater part of
the books of Moses was intended for the land of Palestine. Will
It be appropriate when " the wilderness shall rejoice and blossom
as the rose 7" But I did not mean to write all this. However
much in error you may deem me on some points, do not think me
in error on the grand ones of human depravity, the atonement of
Christ, and the influences of the Spirit. These must always re-
main the same, whatever differences there may be in the external
means by which they are regulated. It is to me a very pleasant
thought, that Christ shall reign in honor where he was crucified
in ignominy and scorn ; that this fair and beautiful earth shall be
LETTERS. 359
redeemed ; and that we may reasonably look for his glorious ap-
pearing soon to take to liiin his great power and reign. How
soon, I do not pretend to say; but it is my daily prayer, that if
you and I live (o see it, we may each be found watching for him
in the sphere he has appointed, so that if he cometh we may be
ready. You will ask, " Why do T trouble njyself with these new
notions 1 Why is not tlie old belief, (though it is not the old be-
lief,) about our going to Him, good enough ?" It would be good
enough, and far too good, for such a creature as I feel myself to
be, and if it be the truth of Scripture, I am most heartily willing
to receive it ; but with such light as I have, after much prayer
and searching of the Scriptures, it does not seem to me to be all
that is promised. I should be most thankful to pick the crumbs,
but if called and commanded to the feast, it does not seem to be
humility or obedience to turn away.
But I will stop now. Pray for me, that I may not embrace or
teach error, even on points not essential to salvation. With many
affectionate remembrances,
I am, as ever, your dutiful son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Ningpo, March 6th, 1S46.
Rev. Daniel Wells —
My Dear Brother : — The news you sent me from Mr. Ja-
cobus' church was deeply gratifying. Since the novelty of mission-
ary life has worn off, 1 have learned to prize more highly the
prayers of God's people at home. If those good people could but
see a little of a missionary's heart, and the crowd of thoughts that
pass there, they would think these prayers might be of much
service. When one's own corruptions fill his heart with sorrow:
when, amidst all his efforts at a strange language, he finds him-
self making but slow progress; when he finds the people utterly
dead to all his warnings, and intent only on gain ; when he sees
the laborers few, and the field so great, and occupied by those who
are sowing tares — O, wonder not if he asks almost despairingly,
" Can these dry bones hve ?" Lord God, thou knowest ! It does
not require many months' experience among the heathen to be
satisfied, that it is "not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit
of the Lord," that our work is to become successful
Ever yours in Christian affection,
W. M. LoVv^RIE.
Ningpo, April 21st, 1S4G.
Rev. John Lloyd —
My Dear Brother: — It is now near four months since I
wrote to you, but you will believe me when I say, that if I have
not written I have at least not forgotten you, and often try to
360 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
remember yon, where I trust you remember me, at a throne of
grace. I could give you the usual string of apologies ; Chinese,
reading proofs, keeping accounts, answering letters ; but I fear if
I did so, it would make you think I was doing a great deal, when
in fact weeks pass away and I seeirj to have done nothing, to
have really made no progress, and have to cry out for mercy to
the unprofitable servant. How woidd Calvin, or men of half his
mind, smile at the idea of all I do being called work ! I fancy
that hundreds of men do as much before breakfast as I do in a
whole day. I find it a ver}'^ serious drawback in my study and
acquirement of the language, that so much of the best part of
my missionary life was spent where the dialect I was studying
was not spoken. Although I know more of books than any
other here, yet McCartee speaks incomparably better than I do,
and both Culbertson and Loomis will probably be preaching be-
fore me. What in the world should I do among the " tones" of
your delightful dialect? I fancy I should be among them like a
certain Presbyterian clergyman, who attempted to conduct the
Episcopal service once, and had it reported of him afterwards
that " he wandered up and down among the prayers, like a blind
man among the tombs."
This reminds me that in your last you speak of our having no
tones in this dialect. This is to a great extent, but not entirely,
the case. The tones are necessary in some words ; but generally
speaking, if you get the idiomatic expression, you need not bother
your head about the tones ; and none of us pay any theoretical
attention whatever to their acquisition. It is a pretty good proof
of their not being necessary, that the Fuhkeen men, of whom
there are many here, cannot learn to speak this dialect well.
The remark is often made that "you foreigners speak Ningpo'
dialect better than the Fuhkeen people;" and iinperfect as my
acquirements are in speaking, I have been told a dozen times that
I pronounce better than the Fuhkeen men. If I could only get
among the people, and not see a book or a foreigner for six
months or a year, I think there would be some hopes; and I
often half wish some person would run away with me, and keep
me captive for a while, for otherwise I do not see how I am to
get away. Well, all this is egotism, and much of it is nonsense ;
but I beg you to receive it as a proof how much I care for you,
that I let you see such effusions, and how much I do not care for
you, or I would not let you see them.
I have just been interrupted by a long talk from a couple of
Chinese, who talked so fast that the words came out like a mill-
stream, and all I could do was to gather the drift of the discourse
and let the particular words vanish into thin air. I wish I could talk
as much as I can understand ! But patience, perseverance, and
prayer ! Oh to be kept from growing weary or careless in God's
work. I did not feel afraid of this in the first year or two; but
now it requires much watchfulness and prayer, lest I become
LETTERS. 361
weary or discouraged. You have much reason for thankfuhiess
that you got to your field so soon, and liave not quite so many
letters to write, as I had during my first two years; but I ought
not to complain of them, for it was my appointed work, since the
providence of God repeatedly prevented me from taking any other
course, and perhaps it was the best on the whole. But as I look over
my past life, and especially that part spent in missionary ground,
I have to pray, "pardon the unprofitable, erring, sinful servant !"
It is so late, having been so interrupted by the conversation
above referred to, that I must close my sheet for the night, hoping
to be able to finish to-morrow, though I know not when a letter
can be sent from here. If the overland route answers, we will
try and send in that way.
I think Mr. Smith has led you into a mistake, on the point of
the " two dialects." As far as I know, in all parts of China, the
written and the colloquial dialects differ so widely as to be really
two languages. This is the case here, for Ningpo colloquial can-
not be written with Chinese characters. True, many words,
perhaps one-half, are the same in the two ; but you never can
tell from seeing a character in a book whether it can be used in
speaking, unless your teacher tells you. Jin is spoken nying ;
urh tz is spoken ^ny tz ; chay-ko is spoken kiliko, while Joo-tsze
which is book Mandarin, and chay-yaiig which is colloquial
Mandarin, meaning, "so fashion," or " in this way," in one dia-
lect is sz''-ka-go, which cannot be written at all, i. e., has no
characters to express it ; though characters might be arbitrarily
employed, which would give the sound. This is the case with
hundreds of words in common use.
I was both pleased and surprised to hear how much missionary
work is done in Amoy. Would that we could report the half of
it here ! But except tract distributing, at which we all do a little,
there is no preaching excepting by Dr. McCartee, who has a service
every Sabbath, and talks to the people frequently during the
week. I have tried once or twice, but. lilce the man who tried to
swim before he had been in the water, succeeded so poorly, that I
feel afraid to try again. I conduct service with my servants
morning and evening, and hope I shall soon be able to set up a
meeting which might be called "a parish meeting," i. e., not a
regular preaching service, but a preparatory one, which will pre-
pare me for preaching. I have been much thrown back by not
having been able to get a teacher on whom I could depend for
giving me the colloquial expressions. The one I had for nine
months after coining was a capital scholar, but proud, disobliging,
or rather unobliging, and took no interest in anything of the
kind. After bearing with him till I could bear no longer, I turned
him off and got another, who was so stupid that I kept him only
a month. Yesterday I got a new one. and he has taken such
"strong hold" as quite astonislies me. "A new broom sweeps
clean ;" but this man is a scholar, appears to be a gentleman, is
362 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
quite oblig-ing, lively, patient, apt to teach, and on two da3's' ac-
quaintance 1 am greatl}^ pleased. I hope he will hold out, but I
greatly fear. If he does well, and if he becomes a Christian, Oh,
how I should rejoice ! With a good teacher, who was a real
Christian, I think I might be of very much more use than I am
now.
You speak of "feeling as safe as if in New York or Philadel-
phia." 1 feel the same here. I live a mile from any foreigner,
and have frequently walked two miles through the city after eight
or nine o'clock, p. m., without a lantern or any company, with less
apprehension than I would go through many parts of New York
city. The people here are generally very well behaved, and very
civil.
As to mandarins, we see none of them ; we do not visit them,
and are not visited by them. The English consul has discour-
aged visiting, and foreigners, except officers, seldom go near them.
There is a white-buttoned one whom Dr. McCartee and I have
called on, and been called on by ; and last year we had frequent
calls from travelling mandarins with gilt and white buttons, who
came to see the strangers ; but of late I have seen none, and do
not feel any anxiety to meet them. You get in with them at
Amoy, because of the importanr fact that Abeel and Boone and
Cummings have had to act as interpreters, when there were none
but missionaries to interpret, and as the mandarins of course know
of no difference between you and others, they keep up the acquain-
tance.
We are all moving on very quietly and pleasantly. The weather
is getting pleasantly warm, but even yet I like to sit with my fur
coat on in the mornings and evenings, and have as yet laid aside
neither flannels nor woollen stockings. It has rained almost
every day this month, and in consequence of so much rain now,
and the probability of very little next month, when it will be mTich
wanted, fears of a scarcity of rice prevail, and it is already rising
in price. As to ships, there has not been one here, except men
of war, since last August. I do not know how we are to get our
funds after Chusan is given up. Our letters we shall manage to
get overland from Shanghai.
We have bought a bnryiug-gronnd here, about one hundred
feet by fifty, for fifty dollars. Abraham's first possession in the
land where he was a stranger, was a burying-ground.
Your brother in Christ.
W. M. LOWRIE.
Ningpo, July 9th, 1816.
My Dear Father —
Your two most acceptable letters of November, 1845, and Febru-
ary, 1846, came, one in the end of May, and the other to-day. I
cannot tell you how much I am obliged for your good long letters :
LETTERS, 363
the journals of your trip? to Washington and to Albany, were
deeply interesting. I wish I could give you an account of half as
mucfi done by myself, but all my performances seem to me of
small account. Here is a specimen of to-day's employment. Rose
before six. Our nights are warm, and following on warmer days,
I do not derive the refreshment from them that I could wish.
After breakfast and prayers, went over the river to see after the
printing office, got a proof to correct, and came back ; it was ten
o'clock when I got liome, and thermometer then at 90° ; sat down
with my teacher and went over Acts xvii., on which he wrote
comments by my explanations. Then read some in Mencius, and
looked over some points in Chinese history, and some notices of
two or three of their sages. By this time it was one o'clock, and
the thermometer had risen to 98° in my coolest room. I was
pretty well tired, and told my teacher that was enougli for to-day;
came up stairs, corrected the proof for the press, and fmished the
first draught of a letter, one of a series which 1 am preparing for
the Foreign Missionary. This and dinner kept me till three
o'clock; all this time the thermometer at blood heat; and though
a pleasant breeze blowing, yet coming in at times as if out of a
furnace. I have never known such warm weather since I have
been in China, and it so relaxes the whole system, that a very
little labor is quite sufficient to lay a man by. At three I felt so
tired that I lay down, and between reading a little and dozing,
whiled away the time till five ; then got up, found it a little cooler,
sat in the breeze and read an account of the synod of DorL till six.
Went out then for a walk ; went through a number of streets,
and found everybody out of doors, men all half naked, and many
of the children entirely so, and the heat given out from the stones
and houses so great as to be very oppressive. This, and the foul
odors arising from the filth common to every Chinese city, were
such that I was glad to get on the city wall, and turn my steps
homeward. Somewhat of a breeze on the wall, and getting to
my own house about sunset, I sat down to enjoy it. Presently a
man came along and seemed anxious to say something ; so he
asked if I would take a smoke? I told him, no, I did not smoke,
and asked him to sit down. Then he asked how old I was?
Where I came from? Where I lived? &c., &c. By this time
others came, one, two, five, ten, and soon there were about fifty
persons collected to see and hear the Hungnan-nying, (Red-haired
man, as they call all Englishmen.) Asked a good many ques-
tions, and in the course of the talk, gave me an opportunity of
saying several things very pointedly about the folly of idolatry,
the importance of attending to one's soul, and the way of salva-
tion through Christ. Speaking of Jesus, one of the men remarked
that he supposed Jesus was much such a person as Confucius.
" No, Confucius was only a man, but Christ was far superior to
men." Was listened to with as much attention and interest as I
have been at any time, and found it gave me some access to them,
364 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
when they found that I had read and could give the sense of their
own books;. There was one man there from Sfiantung, but I
could understand very httle of what he said. He seemed, how-
ever, to have no difhcuhy in understanding all I said, and seemed
much interested. Gave away some tracts; gave a copy of "The
Two Friends," to one whose appearance had pleased me. He
looked at it and asked if all 1 had were alike, and begged for a
copy of another kind. Came away, all of them giving me a
heaily good'bi/, and one or two joining their hands and thanking
me for the books and doctrine. Came back home, got my tea, and
set down to this letter, which I suppose will take all the rest of the
evening. The thermometer is now down to 91°. J am sitting
in a thin grass cloth suit, and feeling comparatively comfortable
after the hot day.
In some of my previous letters, I have probably given you to
understand that I was much discouraged about learning to speak
this language. This arose in a measure from the unfaitlifulness of
a teacher whom I employed after coming here. For a while I
learned a good deal, and as he was a capital scholar, I wanted to
keep him. But after being with me a few months he found out
what words I knew, and would use no others, so that during the
last four months 1 had him, I scarcely learned a new plirase. I
disliked to turn him off, because in some things he suited me ad-
mirably, being good at explaining the classics, and besides he wag
poor: but at last I could endure it no longer. It was then some
two months before I could get a good teacher. If I could go
about as some others can, I should be less dependent on a teacher,
but my disposition does not lead me to delight in promiscuous
company ; and somehow I have the knack of getting a large
share of the writing, book-keeping, proof correcting, &.C., of the
mission into my hands, which gives me less time than I could
wish for visiting and going about. However, I have been favored
in getting a lirst-rate teacher, and have gained so much in the
last two months as quite encourages me; and it is my present
expectation, (Deo volente,) to commence a regular religious service
in Chinese when the warm weather is over. I might do it now,
but prefer not undertaking what would necessarily require a good
deal of labor in preparation, until the present oppressive season is
past, and in the mean time, go about a little and talk as I did to-
night, which is a help in perfecting my pronunciation, and en-
abling me to speak without embarrassment. In the course of the
present year, I hope we shall have several of our number actively
employed in preaching.
... I quite agree with you in the general principle, that a wife
should not always take her husband home. Still in many cases,
a wife cannot go alone. Dr. and Mrs. H , (of the L. M. S.,)
went home last year on account of her health, and she died be-
fore she got to England. Mrs. J. S , went without her hus-
band, and took her children, (five or six, one very young;) she
LETTERS. 365
died on the voyage. I have not heard how the children got home.
It is this that makes it so difficult for a woman to go alone. Few
missionaries have left China of late for their health, till they were
well nigh broken down, and it requires no small resolution to send
off a sick wife on a long voyage, especially if she have children
to take care of What is to be done? For a while I was tempted
to wish that missionaries could live without wives ; but after more
experience and refl(!Ction, I am satisfied that all men cannot re-
ceive tliis saying. Even if unmarried men could be contented
and happy, yet there are other, and serious objections. I have
seen more tlian one or two cases in which I thought the bachelor
missionary, merry and cheerful as he professed to be, would have
been not simply a happier man, but a more humane, thoughtful,
sober, useful missionary, and a far better example to the heathen,
if he had been married ; and where example is of such vital im-
portance as it is here, whatever conduces to render it better, is not
to be overlooked
Your affectionate and obedient son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Ningpo, August 10th, 1846.
Rev. John C. Lowrie —
My Dear Brother : — -. . . I heard of Mr. Dod's death, but had
Hot heard of Mrs. P.'s. How many gaps there are already in the cir-
cle of my acquaintances at home ! You will not perceive it so
much as you are constantly making new ones, but mine are only
decreasing : so be it. " I am a stranger in the earth," and never
so happy as when I feel it most.
This has been an oppressingly hot summer. I will send you a
notice of it soon. I doubt whetlier you saw the equal of it in In-
dia. For days together we have had the thermometer u[) to 100°,
but most providentially, it always fell 12^ or 14° at night. June,
Julj' , and the first week of this month were roasters ; but the worst
is over now, and it felt quite delicious to-day when the thermome-
ter got up only to 88^°. Then we have had a drought all sum-
mer ; rumors of poisoning ; alarms of evil spirits, and an earth-
quake, a veritable earthquake, which shook the houses right mer-
rily, and wakened every man, woman and child in Ningpo. Such
screaming ! and beating of gongs ! and firing of crackers ! I will
send you accounts of all these presently. I have them all in my
journal. The earthquake was on the 4th instant, about three
o'clock, A. M. It did no harm, but it frightened the people terribly,
especially as they were then under extreme alarm, from a panic
occasioned by the belief that there are thousands of evil spirits bent
on mischief in the city. With all the melancholy ari-^ing from
seeing them so wholly given up to such superstition, it is yet most
ludicrous to see what tales they can invent. The panic is dying
away now, but when we found the people giving credence to such
366 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
tales, we began to fear that evil might come out of it. Tlieve is
no joke in it, however, for Mr. and Mrs. Loomis have just come
over from Cluisan, not being allowed to remain there, and can get
no house here, on account of the panic and fear of evil spirits,
which are supposed to have some connection with foreigners. . . .
Pray for me, and believe me ever.
Your affectionate brother, W. M. Lowrie.
Ningpo. August 13th, 1846.
My Dear Mother —
Your long letter, February 11, came July 29, about a month af-
ter some letters sent in the same ship, which I received before
yours. I need not say how glad I was to get it. . . .
So many changes have occurred among my acquaintances in
New York, that I should feel quite like a stranger there. . . I can
hardly realize that I am already in my twenty-eighth year. When
shall I grow to the statiu'e of a perfect man in Christ Jesus?
Sometimes I feel lonely ; sometimes long for a bosom Christian
friend ; sometimes long for the wings of a dove to fly away ; and
then again, oh how cold, and dark, and dead. It seems to me the
longer 1 live the less I know or do, and the harder and worse I be-
come, so that I feel ashamed to get the kind letters that are sent
me from home, and almost hope you will not send any more books,
or papers, or remembrances, that seem almost thrown away on one
so worthless as I am. I seem to be getting selfish of late, and it
often distresses me. Perhaps you will say, " all this is but depres-
sion of spirits." Perhaps it is, and as I become stronger with the
returning cold weather, and can do more, it may go away. . .
Good night, and much love to all.
W. M. Lowrie.
Ningpo, August 26th, 1846.
My Dear Father —
.... Our excessive hot weather is now over, and though the
days are sometimes warm, the nights are delightful, and we are
all in the enjoyment of excellent health. My appetite and strength
are returning rapidly, and the summer, notwithstanding my fears
in June, has been the most comfortable I have spent in China. I
have not done much for two months past, however, for it is really too
much labor to study or work with the thermometer at blood heat.
Of late, I have been busily engaged in collating notes and quo-
tations, on the proper word for expressing the name of the Su-
preme Being, in Chinese. The weight of authority, i. e., most of
the most learned missionaries, have given their influence in favor
of using iShang-te, but many others dislike the term exceedingly,
as being the proper name of the chief Chinese god ; and when we
use it, the people at once say, " oh yes, that's our Shang-te." I
LETTERS. 367
have satisfied myself pretty well that Shi}i is the proper word to
use. ... If this word is adopted, it will then become almost neces-
sary to use the word Poo sd in colloquial, though many have taken
up a strange prejudice against tlie word, as if it meant an idol, and
was a contemptuous or dishonorable term. Nothing can be more
contrary to the fact, and I have found myself in my efforts to talk
to the people, almost compelled to use it, there being no other term
in the language which expresses so well and so intelligibly, what
we mean by God. It is a little troublesome in preparing articles
of this kind, not to have the proper books at hand for reference.
My library is, I believe, the best in Ningpo, (unless Mr. T
has a better, which I doubt.) but I found it quite insufficient for
my wants, as I know of several books which would have materially
helped me, but had them not.
Everything goes on very pleasantly and harmoniously in the mis-
sion ; but the great things, life, and vigor, and zeal, are lament-
ably wanting. How easy it is, even for the missionary, to seek for
pleasure in everything but in God. I am often cast down, and
sometimes deeply discouraged, to find in me so little love for my
Saviour, and so little disposition to active exertion. Instead of
coming nearer and nearer, and being more conformed to God, I
seem to be going farther and farther away. I trust that no one
else here is so low or so useless as I often feel myself to be. The
sense of my own worthlessness often makes me imwilling to send
for such things in the way of books as I need, (and there is very
little else that I feel any want of,) and even unwilling to receive
all the kind presents and letters tliat are sent to me. Oh, for more
purity, and zeal, and love — to be like Christ. Do not cease to pray
for my spiritual well-being.
Believe me as ever, your affectionate son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Ningpo, September 3d, 1846.
My Dear Mother —
The clock has struck eleven, and I ought to be in bed, but I feel
as if I wanted to write to you, though I do not know that I have
much to say. I was writing a sermon this evening to preach on
the next Sabbath, for I still write sermons occasionally, and get-
ting it finished before eight o'clock, I was a little at a loss what to
do, for I did not feel like reading or studying after that. So I took
out a package containing tlie letters received from father and you,
during the first two years of my life in China. Getting interested,
I kept at them till nearly eleven o'clock, and then felt as if I
wanted to thank you more heartily than I had ever done for all
your affection, and sympathy, and kindness to me. Of course I
could not read them all over, but I glanced over each, and read
parts of them, and many a tear fell as I recalled the scenes
through which I had passed, and your deep sympathies with me.
368 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
It is good to weep sometimes, and I often wish I could weep
more over my own sinfulness and uselessness. It is nearly five
years since I have seen you ; sometimes I catch myself asking,
" Shall I see you again ?" and then again, " But how is it possi-
ble ?" I was discouraged a few months ago, for fear I never
would learn this language, but for the last seven months I have
made such progress that I should he loath on any account to
leave this field of labor. I think now my prospects of acquiring a
pretty thorough and extensive knowledge of it are quite fair; and
if so, then here is my field, and here would I gladly labor, and die,
or, if the Lord pleases, abide till he comes. It would be a sad
thing not to be at my post when he comes, though much I fear
that I shall not stand before him without blushing for my mani-
fold imperfections, and great unprofitableness. Yet if I may be
of a little use here, it will abundantly repay me; and at present I
can conceive of scarcely anything that would be so painful as to
go back to the United States without an unmistakable call to do
so. It does seem to me as if I could not do it. How much of
this may be from a desire to preserve my reputation, I will not pre-
tend to say, but among other motives, I trust that of preaching Cln-ist
to these poor idolaters is not the least. How wretciied is their
condition ! I stood at my window the other day, and saw an idola-
trous procession goby, till my heart asked, "Oh, Lord, how long?"
But I am wandering from my purpose, which was more imme-
diately to tell you how I felt in recalling the trials and events of the
first few months of my life out in China. Somehow, they seem
to have happened much longer ago than is really the case. Most
of them seem to have occurred ten years ago; and I sometimes
think of them as if they had happened to another person. How
much goodness and mercy were mingled with them all. I was
much struck, too, in reading your letters, to notice how many that
I knew when with you are already dead : Miss P , Miss R ,
M T , H V , F — -, Miss H , and so many
others. Some that were careless then, are pious now. Changes,
breaking up, and settling down : — I am more at home here than I
should be in the United Sates.
I am commonly very happy, all but in one thing ; I have so little
grace. Pray for me. It is a hard thing to keep the flame of piety
burning bright when the sickening blasts of idolatry blow on the
soul, and there are few to speak of Christ. Oh for the time to
come when he will take to Himself his great power and reign. I
hope my Millenarianism will not offend you. I find unspeakable
comfort at times in thinking of his ''appearing," willing to labor
till he comes, but saying, " Lord Jesus, come quickly." What a
glorious time it will be ! He came once, and though he came to
suffer and to die, yet even then the "groaning creation" was on
lip-toe to receive him. The winds heard his voice, the waves
became solid beneath his feet, the fish came at his command, the
tree shook down its leaves when he spoke. Good angels hovered
LETTERS. 369
near, and devils fled at his word. If all this happened when he
came to be "a servant," what will it be when he comes "to reign?"
and we shall reign with him. Yes, forever and ever. Now, you
believe all this, of course, as firmly as I do. though we may differ
as to the time. I think it may happen in our day, but it will
certainly happen some day. Oh to be accepted when he comes !
Who will think of labors, or trials, or separations then? "So
shall we be ever with the Lord." It makes me wonder, how can
he condescend so low ? how is it possible we can be lifted up so
high ? But '' fear not, little flock, it is your Father's good pleas-
ure to give you the kingdom." It is his "good pleasure," and so
we shall have it. If it were our "good deeds," we might despair.
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
I do not write so much and so freely as I used to ; and I some-
times fear you may think I am forgetting, or losing my afiection
for you ; but it is not so. I have more to do than I used to have,
though I do not seem to accomplish much, and it is often of such
a kind as indisposes me for the free and easy letters I would like
to write. But nothing brings tears more easily to my eyes than to
recall past hours with you, and I sometimes seem to live them
over again. Well ! here is the last corner of the sheet, and though
I have not said much, yet it seems like a relief to say even this,
disjointed as it is. It is nearly midnight, — high noon with you.
How often is it so in life ! Bright noon and joy with one, and
perhaps his dearest friend at the same moment in midnight gloom,
but the Sun is still in his place, as brigiit and cheering as ever ;
and "when I awake, I am still with thee." I presume you know
my meaning. I have not space to enlarge it, and so write here
Ever alfectionately yours,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Ningpo, September 15th, 1846.
My Dear Father —
.... You will unite with us in thanksgiving, that we have
been permitted to receive a Chinese, a native of this place, into the
church. He was for a long time, eight or ten months, under
pretty constant instruction and examination, and gave us every
satisfaction before being admitted to the church. He is employed
by Miss Aldersey, who has been very faithful to hijn in teachino-
bun.
p .... I got my head full of a notion of preparing a Dictionary
of the Four Books the other day, and may perhaps try to make
something out of it. There is no existing dictionary by which a
Chinese student can read even the Four Books with satisfaction.
Morrison's is the best. My plan would be to make a Dictionary,
1st. Of all the words in the Four Books, about 2500 : this would
be the great body of characters used in the language — Dyer's list
having only 3500. 2d. To give all the meanings of each word that
24
370 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
occurs in the Four Books, which, as they are the foundation of
the hterature of China, would be by much the greater part of the
important definitions needed. 3d. To give pretty full biographical
notices of all the persons, and notices also of the places mentioned
in the Four Books : this would give nearly everything that is
important in ancient Chinese history. The above is the better
half of what I have cut out. To do it, without interfering with
my more direct and more important missionary labors, would re-
quire between two and three years. Should this plan succeed, I
might afterwards try my hand at a more important and ambitious
effort, i. e., a Dictionary of the language; but this is so vast an
undertaking, that at piesent I have little idea of trying it. The
Dictionary of the Four Books I think I can manage, and it would
be an important contribution towards a general dictionary. I
have not spoken of it to any one, and do not wish to do so, as
so many things may interfere, but I should be very glad to get all
the assistance possible in it, even if only for my own advance-
ment. I should like to get the translations published at Paris
and Berlin. I do not know where the money is to come from for
all these, but if you can manage to get them for me, or for the
mission, all the same, I should be very glad. I hope you will not
say 1 am engaged in any such work, for I am not yet so commit-
ted to it that I feel myself bound to continue it, even to myself;
and if I did commence it, I would not want it known, till I was
in a situation not to fear the reproach of beginning without count-
ing the cost.
I have been a good deal encouraged of late in my hopes of
learning the language, and if God spares my life, and gives me
health, I think there is a reasonable prospect of my becoming a
tolerably thorough scholar. My early education, for wjiich, under
God, I am most indebted to you, gives me some qualifications for
it, which, I trust it is not vanity alone tells me, are not possessed
by all those who have gone before me to this field
Ever your affectionate son, W. M. Lowrie.
Ning-po, December 9th, 1846.
James liENOx, Esq. —
My Dear Sir : — Your letter of April 20th has been lying by
me for some three months, a longer period than usually elapses
before I answer letters ; but my time has been much occupied
with writing appointed me by the mission, and with the prepara-
tion of my weekly Chinese discourses, which take nuicli of the
time that I once gave to correspondents,
I am exceedingly obliged for your kindness in regard to the
books. On several occasions we have been very glad to have
some at hand ; and I have no doubt they have been a means of
doing good, by being put in the hands of persons who would other-
wise have had few or no religious books near them.
LETTERS. 371
I do not think the books for the Wind would be of service here.
They are, of course, in the Enghsh language, and it could hardly
be considered a profitable employment for us to turn from the
multitudes arouud us, and spend time in teaching a few blind
persons to read a strange language. One or two at each statioA,
as a curiosity, and to show the Chinese the comprehensive benev-
olence of Christian society, which regards even the dumb and the
blind, would doubtless be interesting. My teacher was exceed-
ingly astonished the other day, when I showed him a hymn for
the blind, which I happened to have, in raised letters. The idea
had never occurred to him before. I fear it would be impossible
to adapt it to the Chinese language. Even with " the skin burnt
off," the fingers could not appreciate the fine lines of our many
thousands of characters. They are trying enough even to the
eyes.
I have been trying to teach my teacher lessons in music, partly
with a view of finding thereby what are their ideas of music ; but the
experiment has not been very successful, partly, no doubt, because
I know so little of music myself I wish, (when will wishes end?)
that we had some missionaries here, who were adepts in musical
composition, to study the nature of Chinese music, improve it, and
compose tunes suited to Chinese poetry. It seems to me rather
incongruous to tack Ortonville, Old Hundred, 6cc., tunes composed
for English words, to Chinese poetry. In Luther's judgment,
music composed for Latin poems was unsuited to German verse ;
and if so, foreign music must be still more unfit for Chinese verse.
But I feel at present comparatively little interest in singing Chi-
nese poetry, from the fact that it is so utterly unintelligible to the
mass of the people. This language, I mean as written, is one of
the greatest possible barriers to the spread of the gospel here. I
may be mistaken, but to me the conclusion seems irresistible, that
till a change as great as that which came over the languages of
Europe at the Reformation, comes over this language, it will be
unfit for the extensive dissemination of truth among the mass of
the people ; — I mean, of course, the written language. We can
now preach the gospel in* the spoken language; but the spoken
language is not a written language ; and thus, as far as the mass
of the people are concerned, we have no means of reaching them,
except by the living preacher, or such of their own educated peo-
ple as may feel interest enough in our books to explain them to
the people. Why not write the spoken language ? It may be
done, but not in a day, nor in a year. I hope to see a beginning
made in my day, but it must come gradually, and against strong
opposition and contempt from the literati of the country. We
think of preparing some books, or rather sheet tracts, in the col-
loquial language of this province ; and, as a means of making
them attractive, in spite of the contempt of the people for what
seems to them so low, we want to have them illustrated with pic-
tures. Pictures are like the corks which hold a man up in the
372 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
water oftentimes ; at least, many a book is read at home for the
sake of the pictures, and there is no reason why it should not be
so here ; and we shall soon make an application to the Committee
to send us out a good supply of the pictures of birds, beasts, uten-
sils, and various figures, prepared by type-founders, which are pre-
cisely what we want; and I feel disposed to speak for your vote
in the Committee beforehand. Some might laugh at the idea of
sending such things to a mission-station ; but really, a picture of
a steamboat, or railroad car, with a suitable description, or pictures
of the costumes and customs of dilferent countries, with short ac-
counts of them, would do more to arouse a spirit of inquiry, and
awaken the dormant mind of this people, than a person at home,
accustomed from infancy to such things, could well imagine.
Such a book as the New England Primer, well translated into the
colloquial dialects of this country, and with good pictures, would
be a national blessing. The book would be eagerly taken and
read for the sake of the pictures. It may be said, this is treating
the Chinese hke children ; but the fact is, the wisest of them are
ignorant of things which every child knows at home ; and amidst
all the diversity of talents which we require, and can employ here,
scarcely any is better than aptness to be an " instructor of babes."
.... Much as the return of missionaries is deplored by our
friends at home, it can hardly be felt by you so much as it is by
us ; its effects here are almost always more sensibly felt than at
home. Our little number diminished, men of experience taken
away, the remaining parties discouraged ; the heathen, judging
from one, that all are equally uncertain to remain, and hence feel-
ing less interest in us ; are only a part of the difficulties. But has
the question ever been fairly studied and looked at, at home ? It
is felt that something is wrong, but who knows where to lay the
blame ? or where to apply the remedy ? A thought has often oc-
curred to me, which yet I feel some delicacy in expressing. The
difficulty, or one difficulty is, that the Church expects of the mis-
sionary what the mass of church-members would not do them-
selves. Now it is hard for the stream to rise higher than the foun-
tain ; and missionaries generally possess very little, if any more
piety than Christians at home. It does seem imreasonable for
those who stay at home, and know comparatively little of the
pains of separation from friends, of loneliness and isolation among
the heathen, to say to their missionaries, " Good brethren, go ;
and the blessing of God go with you. We will support you, and
pray for you, (?) and think of you, and read your letters ; — but
do not come back here. If you do, it must be at the risk of los-
ing much of your influence, and being thought to be tired of your
work, and you had better not come." Doubtless, many of the
best friends of missions would be far from using such language,
and yet if I am not mistaken, it is the feeling of the mass. It
is a serious question whether those who use such language, or
feel such sentiments, are entitled to use it ; or whether they should
LETTERS. 373
not, first, pluck out the beam before they spy the mote. Now it
strikes me that it would be better to say, " Go brethren, and labor
faitlifuUy, and as long- as you can. We will do our part. We do
not expect, and we do not wish you, to forget your father land.
You have the feelings of men and women, of sons and daughters,
and it is natural and right, that you should at times long for
Christian intercourse with the great congregation, and the family
fireside. Should these feelings become strong in you, we shall
not interfere with your once more visiting your aged parents ; but
shall welcome you among your friends, and endeavor to fit you
to go forth again with renewed vigor to your work. Only re-
member you are the Lord's, and ma}^ not needlessly or extrava-
gantly use his time, even for objects so sacred, as cultivating the
kindher feelings of your hearts." Some such language as this,
expresses the feeling I would like to see among the churches. My
meaning is, that it ought to be understood and allowed, and in
many cases approved, that a missionary, after a certain time,
should have the right to return home on a visit. The Church
ought not to require exile, as many seem disposed to do. 1 am
satisfied that to have it understood on all hands, that a man had
a right to see once more, those whom he cannot but long to see,
would have no tendency to increase the number of returns home.
It would make most men and women better contented to stay and
labor ten years, if they felt that at the end of that time there
would be no obstacle to a visit home if desired. And a person
who had spent ten years in heathen land, would not, after that,
want to leave it finally, if he had the smallest portion of true
missionary spirit. If he did, it would probably be better that he
should. It seems to me, that the prospect of a cheerful visit home
would encourage many a man to labor on, and to form his plans
for life here, who might be appalled by the idea of a lifetime, unre-
lieved by any such prospect; nor do I see how the mass of Chris-
tians can object to this, without either condemning themselves for
their own want of self-denial, or else requiring of their missionaries
to renounce many of the finest feelings of their nature.
In the English army in India, the officers are allowed after ten
years' service, three years' furlough ; and after twenty years, to
retire finally. I should be sorry to see the latter regulation ap-
plied to our warfare ; but at present it strikes me, that the priv-
ilege of a visit home, after every ten years of service, for a much
less period than three years, would be a saving both of men and
money in the missionary cause. There are some who would not
embrace it ; most persons probably would. It would make their
first ten years pass more pleasantly away, and it would revive
them bodily, and mentally, and^/^j/77/^a//y, for the next ten years ;
and at the end of twenty years, if they wanted to leave the mis-
sionary field it would probably be for sufficient reasons. . . .
Believe me, my dear sir, very truly yours, in Christian bonds,
W. M. LOWRIE.
374 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Ning'po, December 31st, 1846.
My Dear Father —
I have been writing my weekly Chinese sermon this evening;
and after writing rather more than half, finding that I had still
a spare hour before bed-time, I thought I could not do better than
spend it in a letter to yourself. I write a sermon in Chinese every
week ; about eight pages ; not so large as a letter-paper sheet.
This I look over several times, especially on Sunday ; put up a
notice on my doors, that in the afternoon tbere will be preaching ;
and open my doors shortly after dinner — say at half-past two. One
of my servants, or my teacher, stands at the door and invites pass-
ers-by to come in. The great difficulty is to get an audience to
begin with. My house is in a part of the city where there are not
many respectable residents near, but it is on a thoroughfare, with
many passers-by, and with any attraction there is no difficulty iu
getting people to stop. I commonly commence as soon as there
are five or six present, and if the weather be at all fair, I am pretty
sure in five or ten minutes to have from fifteen to forty persons.
My discourses are extempore, i. e., I read my written sermon care-
fully, and then leaving it in my desk, go down stairs, and, as the
Scotch say, " overtake" as much of it as I can. It commonly
takes me twenty minutes to get through, but this is a strange
tongue, and to an audience not very attentive, is as fatiguing as a
sermon forty or fifty minutes long would be in a small church at
home. By the time 1 am done, it has several times happened that
the house and verandah were quite full ; and as people, seeing a
crowd, still keep coming in, I have several times, after giving
away a few books, and talking a little separately to a few persons,
got up and preached the same discourse right over to an entirely
new audience. In this way I have the opportunity of preaching
to from fifty to a hundred persons ever}^ Sabbath, and I expect
generally to adopt this course. After the discourse is over, I offer
a short prayer, all standing. As to my own fluency, perhaps the
less said the better; but I find these services, both in preparation
and in delivery, are not so appalling or difficult, as were my first
efforts at preaching at home ; and this very polite people compli-
ment me exceedingly on speaking the language so well. It is not
at all uncommon to hear them say, " Why he speaks our language
with a full mouth! How can a foreigner learn to speak it so
well? Why, a Fuhkeen man would not speak so well in ten
years," (fee. I think there can be no doubt that, difficult as this
dialect is, it is one of the easiest in China ; and were I less of a
recluse, or fonder of company, I might soon be a fluent speaker.
Dr. McCartee, who has more freedom of tongue than I have, talks
hke a native, and has a command of words quite unexampled in
a person who has been so short a time in China.
We are all talking of building now, but as yet no one has got
a place to build on. We find the present plan is Poo chung —
LETTERS. 375
"does not meet our wishes," as the Climese say. The houses do
very well for a while, but they want so many repairs, and the rent
and repairs come to so much, that we begin to think building with
all its troubles belter than renting.
The members of the mission are all in very good health. I
know of nothing of special interest among us. I am ordered by
the mission to write for a second printing press ; but as the letter
will go overland, I suppose you will get it before this.
What is to be done about procuring Chinese books? I am now
beginning to be able to use a Chinese book, and want a library.
I have already two hundred volumes, (Chinese,) but my pocket is
empty now. Is there any appropriation for books ? Hitherto I
have paid for all mine out of the money Mr. gave me, or
what I could save out of my own salary. But the former sum
was used up long ago, in buying elementary books, and a set of
the Chinese Repository, and I have now used up all of my salary
I can spare for the present year. To be sure, I shall not read all
I have got for many a year, but I shall want to refer to most of
them, and to others too, very soon. A good mission library would
obviate the necessity for any member of the mission buying a
number of works that would be contained in it; but there are
others which each person should have for himself. Hitherto none
of the books I have bought have been paid out of the mission
funds, and I should prefer not to get any with the mission money
if I can avoid it.
I still keep at preparing a dictionary of the Four Books, spend-
ing two or three hours every day at it. It is a very pleasant recre-
ation, and I find it one of the best modes forgetting accurate ideas
of the sense of characters, so that it will be time well spent, if never
a line sees the light. I thought at first that there were about
two thousand five hundred characters in the Four Books, but on
counting, as I have made out a list, I find there are about two
thousand two hundred and fifty. I have already noted down one
or more, sometimes eight or ten, significations to about one thou-
sand two iiundred of them. But this is not the half, nor the hard-
est part of the work. I think, however, if I go on as I have
begun, that I may get all the significations noted down in four or
five months more ; and then eight months' moderate work would
bring it into a state fit to see the light. Since writing to you at
first, however, I have thought of extending it so as to include the
Shoo-king and She-king, or Book of Records and Book of Odes.
This would increase the number of characters to about three thou-
sand five hundred. My plan would include pretty full biograph-
ical and historical notices of China, from the days of Yaou and
Shun to those of Mencius, say from B. C. 2100 to B. C. 300, and
would make a large quarto volume.
If the work were well done, it would be invaluable. If even
moderately well done, it would be of much utility. I have no idea
that I could do it well, and doubt whether I could do it moderately
376 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
well. The actual expense of printin;^ and binding five hundred
copies would be under a thousand dollars. After tlie first hundred
were sold, say at six to eight dollars a volume, it would have but a
slow sale. I would cheerfully make it over to the Mission or the
Board, if they would undertake the expense of publication. The
estimates alone are mere guesswork, as I have not yet made suf-
ficient progress to encourage me to think of looking seriously to
publication, nor would I trouble you with these accounts now,
were it not that by the time I can hear from you, I shall want to
know a little what your views are. I shall probably know defi-
nitely whether I shall be able to do anything or not ; and if then
I feel disposed to continue, a good deal will depend on the proba-
bilities of getting it published. The Shoo-King, She-King, and
Four Books, are pretty complete ; and no other books would give
so full an account of ancient China, and the beginnings of many
customs and modes of speech that are connnon now. At present
there is no dictionary with whicii one could read even the Four
Books satisfactorily, and much less the Shoo-King, and She-King.
In saying this I make no exception, even for Morrison, much less
for M , who, though doubtless the best acquainted with
Chinese of any of the foreign sinologues, is not a very satisfactory
authority for philological purposes.
December 4. I do not know when this letter will get off. but I
must finish it to-night. My teacher was away all day, so I had
to study by myself. Spent the time principally at my dictionary,
and noted sixty-five new words, besides additional meanings to as
many more. This was a great day's work, for I seldom give
more than two hours a da}'^, and in tliat time can note only from
ten to twenty new words. A visit across the river, airing and put-
ting up my Chinese books, and finisJiing my Chinese sermon, have
occupied the rest of the day. . .
I suppose the new brethren have arrived in Canton before now.
A letter from Mr. Morse informed me of his having heard of their
sailing in the Grafton in July. . .
Your affectionate son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Ningpo, September 13th, 1846.
To THE Rev. John Lloyd : —
Dear Brother John : — You will judge from the date of this
letter (Sabbath evening,) that it is not to be about everything
under the sun. I do not know how it strikes every person, but
occasionally I like to spend a part of the Sabbath evening in Chris-
tian conversation with an absent friend, and I do not know that
it is more improper to converse with pen and ink, than by word
of mouth, . . . Your note of July 1, inclosing a letter from J. M. L.,
came two days ago, and your note of Aug. 27, reached me this
morning. ... In several notes you have spoken of a wish to be
LETTERS. 377
near me. I heartily w'lsfi it could be so, but I fear you would
find only a very weak and bruised reed to lean on, if you ex-
pected any good from me. You would not expect much if you
knew me better. God is showing me of late in a very painful way
that m myself I am nothing,— can do nothing, and am utterly
sinful and vile ; and the way he shows it is by leaving me to my-
self, to walk on in my Christian course, and to do my duties with-
out any sensible support of his grace; and the consequence is,
that I am very low. Oh, how man}^ bitter things I write against
myself; but the worst is, my utter deadness — no life or delight in
prayer, the Scriptures, or meditation. What dreadful things
these hearts of ours are ! It amazes me to think that God can be
gracious to people naturally so vile, and who sin so grievously
after conversion. I preached a week ago on the prodigal son's
departing from his father's house. I felt the subject a good deal
myself, and several of the little audience were in tears; but alas, I
do not seem to have " come back" yet. To-day was our counnu-
nion, but I found little or no benefit. There has been much
strangeness between God and my soul for many months past, and
often a great reluctance to close and faithful dealing with myself.
So dead that I have lost the savor of spiritual things, and the per-
ception of the beauties of the Bible, and seldom draw nigh unto
God. I seem to satisfy myself with very faint services. Oh to be
revived ! and yet this lazy heart would be revived without effort
on my own part. Awake, thou that sleepest ! Alas ! I am so
soon wearied in my efforts. Like ihe liltle flying-fish, but a mo-
ment up, and then back in the trouI)led waters of this heaving, rest-
less world. Oh Lord God, give me wings, and enable me to breathe
the pure and spiritual atmosphere of heaven. I find myself by
nature diseased by sin, which, like the leprosy, affects my whole
frame. Yea, " the plague is in his head." Yea, the " whole
head is sick, and the whole heart faint ;" and thus I neither prop-
erly appreciate, nor comprehend spiritual things, nor feel them
aright; therefore I am unclean, separated from the society of the
holy, dwelling without the precincts where the people of God's
love are. How deep should be my sorrow, and self-loathing, and
abasement! and how should I come to him whose word can
cleanse. — Lev. xiii. 44-46.
But I trust I am one of God's people, and yet even this is but
renewed reason for humiliation. " My people have connnitted
two evils." " Forsaken God, the fountain of living waters ;" what
greater despite, contempt, unbelief, and sin, than this ? And
"hewn out broken cisterns which can hold no water." How true
is this ! It is so with me. Made for God ; heart disquieted till
it rests in fnm ; and yet unwilling to come to him ; and on the
contrary, seeking rest in creatures ! Well nuay heaven and earth
be astonisb.ed at this ! — Jer. ii. 12, 13.
I trust I have not wholly forsaken God's service, but there is
small comfort in this. It has been with but half a heart that I
378 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
have served him. I have sought happiness in ray study, books,
correspondence, business, friends ; and with a half heart to them
and a half heart to God, how miserably have I gone on ! Oh
Lord, unite my heart to fear thy name ! Psalm Ixxxvi. 11. It is
impossible to serve God if the whole heart be not his. If with
a half heart, then as good none at all. Thus with my half heart
I have fallen asleep, and am become dead. Oh let me now
awake, and arise from tlie dead, and may he who is the light of '
the world give me light. Eph. v. 14, None but he can do it.
Blessed Jesus, raise me to thyself, and shine into my heart with
the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, of which I now
know so little. 2 Cor. iv. 6. Let me rise with thee, and being risen,
let me seek those things which are above where thou sittest, Col.
iii. 1. I have too often forgotten that he who is risen with Christ,
must still seek and labor. Oh let me forget it no more, and thus
laboring and believing, praying and trusting, I beseech thee show
me thy glory, Exod. xxxiii. 18 ; xxxiv. 6, 7.
You will ask, vi^-hy do I live thus ? Because, lam "sold under
sin," and " the good I would I do not." I know I ought to do it,
and am guilty for not doing it. "Oh, wretched man that 1 am,
who shall deliver me from this body of death?" Jesus Christ our
head? Yes, but there is the worst of it. liike the prodigal de-
parting from his father, I have gone away from Christ, and there-
fore have no life. Pray for me. 1 will continue this strain no
longer.
We have much reason for gratitude in not being left entirely
destitute of a blessing here. As many as three persons have hope-
fully experienced a change of heart here during the past year.
One of these is Azin, Miss Aldersey's Chinese servant, a native of
this place, who was baptized to-day. He has been inquiring for
nearly a year, and after a very satisfactory examination, was re-
ceived by the Session into the Church. God be praised for this !
Oh for more ! There are others who sometimes give us hopes,
but we are often grievously disappointed. My servant seems to
be somewhat serious, but I dare not hope that any real impression
has been made on his mind. 1 think my teacher thinks more
than he is willing to admit, but I have as yet no hopes of him.
What a dreadful thing a backwardness to speak on religious topics
is ! There is no one thing that has troubled me in all my inter-
course so much as this. No duty I find so hard to perform, or
which I oftener fail in attending to. Nothing has caused me to
doubt my piety so much as this one thing, and now I almost de-
spair of ever overcoming it. "Out of the abundance of the heart
the mouth speaketh," but if I am judged by this rule, I shall stand
very low. I am glad others are not so deficient in it as [ am.
Monday, 14th. Your summer has been very cool, and ours ex-
cessively hot. Such hot weather, and so long, I have never
known. After having the thermometer up to 98° and 100° every
day for six weeks, it was quite a luxury to find it rising no higher
LETTERS. 379
than 88° and 90°. It is now, however, and has been for three
weeks, very pleasant, and has been down as low as 74° at night,
now generally below 80° at night, and even at the warmest there
was always a fall of 10° to 15° at night. I do not think we could
have lived through it if it had not been for this.
Walsh, at Mynpurie, speaks of 122° in the sun, as very hot.
We have had it nuich higher than that in the sun here ; but in
India the hot weatlier lasts much longer than it does here.
Why do we never see your lucubrations in the Chronicle, or
Foreign Missionary? A man who holds as ready a pen as you
do, is bound to let it speak pro bojio publico. Tell Brother Brown
I am very glad he has connnenced at the right end, and I hope he
will keep on.
I am engaged of late in preparing a report on the word to be
used in speaking the name of God. We are pretty unanimous
here in disapproving of the word Shang-te, as it is perpetually con-
founded with the Chinese idol of the same name. I believe we
are all in favor of Shin, and I have been quite surprised at the
amount of authority, I mean from the Chinese classics, in favor
of its use. What words do you use? and how do they take with
the people ? I would like much to hear what )'^our custom is.
When you write for the Chronicle, I mean you and Brown
both, would it not be well to spell Chinese words after the
Mandarin fashion, and Morrison's spelling? Pari of Brown's
letter in the April Chronicle is Greek to me. Wlio is Giani to
ong"! I suppose the first word is intended t'oiYenMX Mandarin,
and the last for Wang. But I cannot make out the lo, and as for
the hok-sai, I have no idea what it is, unless it be Fiih-sze. Our
dialect comes much nearer the Mandarin than yours, but most of
us prefer, in writing for the Chronicle, &c., to use the pure Manda-
rin, which all who study the characters are supposed to know a
little about, even though they cannot speak it. I must close this
scrawl. You do not expect good penmanship from nie, but I wish
for the sake of your eyes that it was better. Give much love to
Brown, for I take it you and he are pretty much one, and I do not
write to him, for nearly all I would say to him I say to you.
Believe me, ever yours, in the gospel and ministry of Christ,
W. M. LOWRIE.
GENERAL REMARKS IN CONCLUSION OF THE THIRD ANNUAL
REPORT OP THE NINGPO MISSION; OCTOBER 1, 1846.
We have thus presented a brief sketch of our operations during
the year. It may strike you perhaps as exhibiting but a meagre
return for the labors of a year. It affords us, however, much
ground lo thank God and take courage. True, indeed, most of
the work done has been of a preparatory nature, but we should
remember that the husbandman has long patience in waiting for
380 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
the reward of his toils. He does not regard the time as thrown
away which is spent in breaking up the fallow ground, enriching
the soil, and putting in the seed, because he cannot immediately
reap. In the history of modern missionary enterprises, the season
of patience by which God has tried the failh of his people, has
generally been of many years' continuance. We have been more
highly favored. We have already been permitted to introduce
into the fold of Christ's flock by baptism, one, at least, of the for-
mer victims of superstition. Much has been gained too, in expe-
rience, in a knowledge of the habits, disposition and modes of
thought of the people, which may help to guide us hereafter to
the means of gaining access to their hearts. We have laid a foun-
dation for such a knowledge of tlie language, as will enable us to
declare intelligibly the whole counsel of God. We have begun to
be favorably known among the people. Large numbers have had
opportunities of learning something of our character and habits,
and have particularly noticed our observance of the Sabbath.
Many have become acquainted with our object in residing among
them. Not a few have obtained a very considerable knowledge
of the doctrines we teach ; while hundreds have learned enough
of the way of salvation, to put their trust in the Saviour and -se-
cure eternal life, were it not for an evil heart of unbelief. The
year has not therefore been entirely barren of results.
The nature of the work to be done cannot, however, be learned
from a simple statement of labors performed. The missionary
work m all lands must be essentially the same, but it assumes dif-
ferent phases, varying with the character and habits of different
nations. ]t is everywhere a conflict of truth against error— of the
word of God against the impure teachings of the corrupt heart.
But error does not everywhere manifest itself in the same form ; it
may not therefore be uninteresting or unprofitable, in connection
with the above statement of what we have endeavored to do, to
throw together a few notices, which may serve to exhibit more
clearly some of the most prominent features of the work in this
field, so far as its nature depends upon the character of the people
among whom we labor. It must be borne in mind that we are
speaking chiefly of Ningpo, and that many statements may be
true in one part of China, which are not true in other parts. We
confine ourselves to such observations as have a direct bearing on
missionary effort.
To whatever land the missionary of Christ directs his steps,
bearing the religion of the cross, he is almost everywhere met by
a counterfeit religion. It is so here. Yet all religion, of what-
ever kind, sits lightly upon the shoulders of the people. There is
no venerable system of superstition deeply rooted in the affections
of the people, and sustained, as in India, by a crafty and influen-
tial priesthood, wielding a more than princely power: though the
number of the gods is countless, they are little reverenced even
by the most ignorant, and still less by the better informed. Even
LETTERS. 381
those who are most devout and diligent in their worship of the
gods, are influenced solely by the hope that they will obtain some
personal benefit by it, and are not wedded to any particular sys-
tem. They are quite willing to abandon the worship of one, if
they can be induced to beheve that greater advantages will accrue
to themselves by the worship of another. The religious feeling
of the mass seems to be simply a vague notion that there are su-
perior powers, probably Heaven and Earth, which ought to be
worshipped, and that it is expedient on particular occasions, to
seek tlieir favor by offerings and prayers. Men are seldom found
worshipping at the temples. The priesthood is to a great extent
supported by the devotion of the women, who, though forbidden
to go to the temples, by laws wliich the indifference and venality
of the mandarins render a dead letter, are often faitliful in reading
their prayers before the idols, and in observing the numerous fasts
imposed by the priests.
The homage paid to Confucius is undoubtedly idolatrous, yet it
can hardly be considered as holding a place among the rites of
religion. He is worshipped not as a god, but as a man ; and he
is not regarded as possessing divine power, or exercising any im-
mediate control in the affairs of men. His followers jiiay there-
fore be regarded as strictly atheists. Yet the strictest of this class
— the mandarins — do not scruple to repair regularly twice a month,
to present their offerings at the temples; and in times of public
distress, they worship every day. Twice during the present year
they have strictly prohibited the slaughter of animals ; once to
procure a cessation of excessive rains, and once to avert the evils
of long-continued drought. But they have gone further than this,
in sacrificing their own avowed religious views to those of the peo-
ple. We have witnessed the sad spectacle recently, of all the
highest officers of the city repairing daily to an idol temple, lo
prostrate themselves before a senseless Ji.sk, to procure the blessing
of rain. This is all done no doubt to keep the people quiet and
prop up their own weakness, but it shows how little importance is
attached to any particular set of religious tenets. In our work
among this people, therefore, the task of pulling down old systems
will probably not prove so great as in other parts of Asia. The
foundations on which idolatry rests are not laid so deep nor so firm,
and we may therefore devote our energies more completely to the
work of building up the glorious edifice which is built on the foun-
dation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being
the chief corner-stone.
Superstition, the offspring of ignorance, has a firmer hold on
the minds of the people than idolatry has upon their hearts.
Their minds are filled with vain imaginations, of things not visi-
ble ; and the learned and the ignorant, the idolater and the atheist,
alike yield implicit credence to the system of auguries and portents,
lucky and unlucky days, and the whole round of future revealing
signs. The day and hour, the year and month of birth, clearly
382 MEMOIR OP WALTER M. LOWRIE.
foreshadow the future destiny, and no one enters upon any im-
portant undertaking in the face of an unlucky omen. Not a few
of the notions which prevail among the vulgar in more enlight-
ened nations, find their counterpart here ; but while they are there
confined to the few, they are here the guide-book of the many.
The belief and fear of supernatural powers, here as elsewhere, are
the cause of much suffering. The eflfects of this fear are more
terrible here from its universality. It is but recently that the
whole population of this region was thrown into consternation by
the belief that mysterious, powerful, invisible spirits, were sent
forth by myriads, by men dealing in magical arts. Thousands
were held in terror for weeks, and spent many nights in watching,
not daring to close their eyes in sleep. It is thus that Satan rules
in his kingdom. He brings the mind, as well as the heart, under
his sway. It is not by any address to the reason that such ab-
surdities will be robbed of their influence. They address them-
selves to the feelings, and will be overcome with greater difficulty
than idolatry itself.
The combination of idolatry and superstition have produced
their usual terrible effects in degrading the mind. To them we
must attribute., in a great measure, the universal stagnation of
mental energy, and the general, almost childish imbeciUty, which
characterize the Chinese mind. The effect of this is to disqualify
for the enlightened and dispassionate search after truth ; to curb,
or wholly quench, the spirit of curiosity ; and to induce an entire
contentment with utter ignorance of all that it is most desirable
to know. Hence the difficulty of awakening a spirit of inquiry or
anxiety in reference to religious truth. The cold and heartless
assent to all that may be said, the careless nod of the head, or
equall}'^ careless word of approbation, too often the index of utter
indifference alike to truth and error, are even more discouraging,
more trying to the patience, than open and decided opposition.
All seem content with old thoughts, old customs, old modes of
doing things : and not only content, but in love with them. What-
ever is new is almost an object of suspicion and jealousy. Not
only do the farmer and mechanic ply their occupations with the
same rude instruments which their fathers were wont to employ,
but even the man of letters is content to deal with the thoughts
of those who have gone before him, and ring the changes on the
words which express them, without caring to alter, amend, or add
to them. The end, in Chinese composition, is sound rather than
sense. At the examinations for literary degrees, the merit of the
essays produced is determined by the smoothness of the sentences,
and the acquaintance with the classics displayed. There is no
effort to elucidate a subject, to inquire after truth, or to present
new and striking thoughts. The classics are used for the purpose
of these essays, very much as the carpenter uses his lumber. The
material is all there. It is only required to make a display of in-
genuity in turning it into new forms. In consequence of this
REPORT OF THE NINGPO MISSION. 383
feature of the Chinese mind as we now find it, our work will par-
take very little of an ari^nnientative character. We are not likely
to be often drawn into disputes, either in public or in private. We
will be left to devote ourselves wholly to the more pleasing work,
though not less difficult, of giving instruction in the great doctrine!?
of revelation.
The idolatry of China consists not soleh^, nor chiefly, in the
worship of idols. The worship of ancestors, though a less revolt-
ing, is really a more dangerous form of idolatry. It is this that
rears itself like an impassable barrier in tlie way of the progress
of the Gospel. Permeating as it does every province, and every
hamlet of the empire, embracing all classes and conditions of men,
overstepping the dividing lines of all religious, it closes every heart
against the entrance of the Gospel. Having its foundation deep
laid in the tenderest and most amiable feelings of our nature, —
feelings which conmiend themselves as well to the conscience as
the heart, — it is a wonderful exhibition of the tendency of the de-
praved heart to convert virtue itself into crime, and of the an and
craft with whicli the great Adversary turns this tendency to the
accomplishment of his own diabolical purposes. Next to Popery,
it is one of Satan's greatest master-pieces. The strength of the
Papal delusion consists in the amount of revealed truth interwoven
with its falsehoods, — of this, in the amount of truth made known
by natural religion, which has been incorporated with it. As min-
isters of Christ we must denounce, as wicked and abominable, the
practice itself, while we must approve and commend as highly
pleasing to God, the principle — the feeling of the heart, on which
it is founded. Unlike heathen worship, it has a hold upon the
affections of the people, and the neglect of the idolatrous ancestral
rites, is almost universally looked upon with abhorrence, as the
index of a heart destitute of every right feeling. Add to this, that
the principle on which it depends is the very foundation on which
is built the fabric of Chinese law, the corner-stone on which rests
the security of the imperial throne, and that it is sustained by all
the power of an absolute despotism, backed by the overwhelming
force of universal public sentiment, and it may be conceived how
perfectly futile must be all the efforts of a few feeble missionaries
in the extreme borders of the empire, to overthrow it. We re-
member, however, that God is glorified in our weakness. When
the work is done, it will be manifest to all that the Son hath
wrought it.
Gross impurity of morals is ever the concomitant of heathenism.
Chinese philosophers teach a comparatively pure morality ; and
the code given by Confu'*iu3 is perhaps as pure as ever proceeded,
among heathen philosophers, from any other source. But this is
not the morality of the people. Dark, indeed, would be the pic-
ture of public morals in China, if correctly drawn.
Deceit, fraud, and licentiousness prevail to an appalling extent.
To lie is not looked upon as a crime, and to accuse the most re-
384 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
spectable men of falsehood is not even regarded as an insult. To
be detected in an attempt to defraud is attended with greater
odium, and there is a tolerable measure of honesty in the transac-
tion of business, though it is the honesty of policy, not of principle.
Though we see but few of the evidences of infanticide, we have
every reason to believe that it is lamentably common. The poor
destroy by neglect, if not by actual violence, their female children,
who would only be a tax upon their resources, and the mother
always destroys the fruit of lier dishonor.
We must not however look only at the dark side of the picture.
The immorality of China is the immorality of its human nature,
not of its idolatry. It forms no part of her reHgion. Licentious-
ness and fraud are neither inculcated in their holy books, nor en-
couraged by legendary accounts of the example of their gods.
Cold-blooded murders, desperate encounters, and fatal affrays, in
this part of China, are seldom heard of; and violent mobs do not
often disturb the peace of society. Those which we have known,
have been but the popular resistance to the rapacity and oppres-
sion of unprincipled rulers. If deceit and fraud are prevalent,
you are not more liable to be over-reached and deceived by your
neighbor than in most other countries. In our denunciations of
vice we shall therefore have the public voice in our favor, and
practices which conscience reproves as immoral, will not be de-
fended by the voice of religion as virtuous.
The state of society affords us many grounds of encouragement.
No dividing walls of caste separate the people into different grades,
cut off from friendly intercourse with each otiier. The minds of
those who may be favorably impressed with the truth, will not be
filled with dread at the thought of scaling those walls, and bra-
ving the consequences of a step which renders them outcasts from
society. There is even a higher degree of community of feeling,
and fewer divisions of society, than among the civilized nations of
the West. There is no titled aristocracy. Learning and wealth
do not draw so distinctly as in the West dividing lines of society,
and there are few, if any, great landed proprietors, who stand
aloof from the cultivators of the soil. The mandarins have little
friendly intercourse with the people. They are a class by them-
selves, shut out from the people, partly by the dignity of office,
partly by being sent to rule in provinces where the people speak a
dialect which they do not understand. This is one extreme of so-
ciety. The other extreme is composed of the vilest of the people,
the disgraced, the beggars, banished criminals, and those on whom
has been fixed the ban of the government. All betv een these
two extremes may be regarded as a conglomerate mass, made up
of poor and rich, learned and unlearned. These may all associ-
ate on terms very nearly approachitig equality. The master and
servant, the man of letters, the wealthy merchant and the com-
mon laborer, may meet together at the same table ; and no defer-
ence is exacted from one which is uot returned by the other.
REPORT OF THE NINGPO MISSION. 385
As in every land where the influence of the Gospel is not felt,
the female sex are not permitted to occupy the place which he-
longs to them. They are excluded from ail the advantages of
education, and for the most part are kept in a state little hetter
ihan servitude. They are compelled to submit to the usual badge
of servitude^ exclusion from the table of the other sex, though
this rule is often violated. Their situation, however, is incom-
parably belter than in most Countries under the influence of
iieathenism. The service imposed upon them is ordinarily in the
sphere of their appropriate duties, and they are conunonly treated
with civility and kiruhiess, thoifgh it is not to be expected that
llie authority assumed over them sliould not be often abused. — In
view of these facts we may hope that when the truth shall have
))egim to make an inipression upon the public mind, it will run
and have free course and be glorified. An iniiuence once com-
nienced w-ill rapidly extend itself. The stream of salvation will
flow, not in a narrow channel hemmed in by rocks on all sides,
and constantly turned from its Course by adamantine walls, but
will spread its fertilizing waters over the wide surface of a level
plain, and over the face of the whole land.
We think, therefore, that in the midst of many of the pecibliar
difficulties which belong lo the nature of the missionary work in
all lands, we have some singular advantages which should ani-
niate us in our efforts and encourage the Church in her prayers.
Seldom have missionary operations been commenced among any
people under more favorable auspices, and there are few mission-
ary fields, if any, which present a less forbidding array of obsta-
cles, or alford greater encouragements. We are in the midst of a
peaceful and quiet people, who always receive us politely and
treat us with civility. Though dwelling among a heathen peo-
ple, protected simply by the obligation of a treaty — -an obhgatioa
not felt by the multitude — ^we feel as safe from lawless violence as
we would even in the peaceful cities of our own more favored
land. We may with as much freedom and boldness publish the
pine Gospel in all its simplicity, as in any city in America, and
with less fear of external interference than in many cities of
Christian Europe. The fields are white to the harvest. The
view of the field itself, and tlie developments of Providence, may
justify us in anticipating at no distant day glorious triumphs of
the (xospel. The victory, if gained, however, v/ill not be gained
without a struggle. Already the ground is disputed with us by
that wonderful power which has so often been drunk with the
blood of the saints, and which is now making sucli vigorous efforts
to extend itself in every part of the world. France has recently,
in more than one instance appeared as the ally of Rome, and the
FrencJi ambassador, when in China, with a zeal which is worthy
of all commendation, exerted himself in her favor. At Ningpo
he procured the restoration of a house and piece of ground which
belonged to the Papists during their palmy days in China, and
25
386 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
which, unclaimed by them, has for many years been in the hands
of the mandarins. The house is now occupied by a French
priest, and several native priests from their mission in the province
of Sye-chuen. Their influence is already beginning to be felt,
and their name having so long been associated with the building
they occupy, is familiar to the people. We may therefore expect
to bear a part in the conflict with the Man of Sin which has
already commenced in every quarter of the world.
In the review of the year, we must acknowledge with gratitude
the kindness of God in moving the heart of him whom he has
placed upon the throne, to repeal those sanguinary laws which,
during several reigns, have made the profession of the religion of
the cross a capital offence. Tliis is another of those providential
events by which the Great Head of the Church is preparing the
way for the establishment of his kingdom in this empire. Who
can doubt that he will carry on that which he has so wondrously
commenced 1 We are far from anticipating that the tide of foreign
influence will be stayed, or that the gates of China will ever
again be closed against the Gospel. Yet we must not too confi-
dentl}' expect that the onward progress of the Gospel will not
again be retarded. The political revolution which commenced in
the triumphant career of the British arnis has not yet wrought
out its results, and it belongs not to us to say what will be its
future developments. Symptoms of instability already begin to
be manifested. The weakness of the government can no longer
be concealed, and the low^est of the people have not failed to ob-
serve it. When it is remembered that the reins of government
are in the hands of foreign usurpers, the overthrow of the present
political fabric may be regarded as an event brought within the
range of probabilities. In any event, we know that He to whom
all power is given in heaven and upon earth, will not be indiffer-
ent to tlic welfare of His Church. In His own good time the
promise will be made good, and they of the land of Sinim will
cast their idols to the bats and to the moles, and give glory to the
God of Heaven, wdio only doeth wonders.
The following paper, with a list of two hundred and seven cuts,
was drawn up by Mr. Lowrie, approved by the Mission, and laid be-
fore the Executive Committee, by whom it was favorably acted on :
1st. It, is well known, that knowledge received by the eye, is
more easily comprehended and longer retained than that which
enters only by the ear. Hence pictures, as a means of instruction,
have been so long acknowledged to be of much utility. It is es-
pecially so with the yotmg, and when describing things never seen
or heard of before. The members of this mission are already fully
aware how utterly ignorant the Chinese are of everything foreign,
and how exceedingly dithcult it is for us to explain multitudes of
things, on account of this ignorance. There can be no doubt that
a series of small books on various subjects of Geography, Natural
ENGRAVINGS FOR MISSIONARY PUBLICATIONS. 387
History, History of different nations, and notices of the Customs,
Dress and Manners of different nations, if illustrated by cuts,
would be of great utilty here. The time we hope is not far dis-
tant, when the members of this mission will be able to prepare
such books, and when this is attempted, the want of cuts will be
found to be a serious obstacle. The list herewith furnislied,
though far from complete, will yet be of material assistance.
2d. Although it may seem as if works such as those mentioned
above do not properly fall within the sphere of a missionary,^ — yet
we remark, that even aside from the knowledge they communi-
cate, they will serve two valuable purposes, which are essential to
our work. First. They will in some measure assist to arouse the
dormant mind of this people. One of our greatest difficulties here
is found in the utter stagnation of the Chinese mind, with regard
to everything but money. Knowledge of almost anything under
the sun, by stimulating the faculties will rouse the mind, put it in
an inquiring slate, and in this inquiring and awakened state, it
will more readily appreciate the truths of Christianity. In the
present state of the Chinese mind it is conceived that instructive
pictures, with appropriate descriptions, will be found to be one of
the best means of arousing it. Secondly. The Ssriptures refer to a
multitude of objects in Natural History, and the history of society
and arts, which are unknown in China, and can scarcely be illus-
trated without pictures. Hence all the illustrations in our Bible
dictionaries and commentaries in Christian lands. We see not
why these are not more necessary here than there.
3d. In illustrating Bible history, few things would be of more
service than a series of pictures, with descriptions, such as are pub-
lished in immense numbers at home. Every one will recollect the
instance of Dr. Doddridge, whose first knowledge of Scriptural
history was derived from some Dutch tiles that ornamented his
mother's fire-place. We regret that in the book of cuts, to which
we have had access, there have been almost no pictures on Scrip-
tural subjects, but as there are doubtless many to be had in the
United States, we trust the Mission will be furnished by the Com-
mittee with a full supply.
4th. By means of cuts, we shall be enabled to bring books written
in the colloquial language of the people, into some favor and re-
pute. It is well known that books in the colloquial language are
despised by the scholars in China. And yet, it can admit of but
little doubt, that if the press is ever to benefit the mass of the na-
tion, it must be by works in the familiar mother tongue of the peo-
ple. Now a book on an interesting subject, and illustrated by
good pictures, will command attention and perusal, even though
written in the most familiar style. And we deem it no ungrounded
expectation, that pictures will be of material service in preparing
the way for the publication of books in the spoken languages of
China.
5th. In support of the opinion of the utility of pictures to those
388 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
engaged in a great work of reformation among any people, we
may appeal to the history of the Reformation from Popery in Eu-
rope in the sixteenth century. According to Merle d'Aubigne,
vol. IV.. page 17, " Hawkers were selling Christian pamphlets,
short and easy to read, written in Latin and in German, and orna-
Qnented ivith engravings^ in which the errors of Rome were vigor-
ously attacked." And even Martin Luther thought it not beneath
his notice to prepare such books. We could not express more hap-
pil}^ what we want, than in the words just quoted. We want
Christian tracts, short and easy to read, both in the book style,
and the colloquial language of this people; — we want them illus-
trated with engravings, and we want them not only to attack the
nonsense and wickedness of idol worship, liut to attack that sense-
less ignorance of this people, which teaches them that they are
the men, and wisdom exists only within the boundaries of the
Central Kingdom.
Among the cuts in the preceding list are eighteen giving repre-
sentations of English, French, German, Indian, African, Asiatic,
and Polynesian costumes and pursuits. What could be more ap-
propriate than a little book containing those eighteen pictures,
with a short description attached to each, specifying where each
nation is found, its population, government, religion, arts, com-
merce, &c. We have seen respectable Chinese lost in astonish-
ment when told of only three or four nations besides their own ;
for they had no previous notion that there w^ere any people under
the sun except the Chinese and a few outside barbarians.
We might pursue this subject further, and give many details to
illustrate our meaning, but perhaps this is sufficient. We only
add, that while for the present our list may be considered tolerably
complete, as far as the more important objects in natural history
and purely miscellaneous subjects are concerned, it is very defi-
cient in some that we are most anxious to possess, especially sub-
jects relating to Scripture history.
December 25th, 184C. W. M. LoWRIE.
Ningpo, December 31st, 1846.
Rev. John C. Lowrie — ■
My Dear Brother : — Your truly welcome letter of June 22d,
came to hand to-day. I know not why it was so long on the road.
A letter from another person in New York, Avritten on the same
day, reached me six weeks ago. But we have to submit to some
inconvenience up here about our correspondence. As another ex-
ample, on the 18th of September, we received the papers contain-
ing the proceedings of the General Assembly, for about one-half
the meeting ; the proceedings of the remaining half have not come
yet, though it is now three and a half months later, unless they
were received to-day, of which I have not been informed. What
has become of the Foreign Missionary ? We have the Chronicle
LETTERS. 389
of Ma}^, June, and July, but no Foreign Missionary for those
months.
... I perceive we shall not agree about millenarianism, and I hardly
know whether it is worth wliile to open the subject. I still find
much comfort and encouragement in it; but the question of com-
fort or encouragement is not the first one. Is it in the Scripture?
If it is, then " he that doeth his will shall know of the doctrine,"
and enjoy its fruits. I fear, however, that you misapprehend my
views in regard to the use of means, such as preaching, &c. I
have lost none of my confidence in preaching, but rather have felt
it increased by means of these views. I think, as you do too of
course, that when Christ comes, we shall have fuller revelations
of his will than we have now. Until he comes, the New Testa-
ment is our rule, the preaching of the word our duty, and by the
word of God as it now is, and the preaching of that word, every
elect soul in the present dispensation must be saved. On this the
millenarian and the anti-millenarian are both agreed, and I see
not how the views of either interfere with the command to go and
preach the gospel to every creature. We differ in this : the anti-
millenarian thinks the glorious promises of the prophets, ("blessed
is he that readeth and keepeth them,") will be fulfilled in the pres-
ent dispensation, and by the use of the present means ; but the
millenarian thinks not. '• Many are called but few are chosen,"
and as long as the New Testament is the only rule for our direc-
tion, I cannot see what riglu. we have to believe that the above
words will not be true — " many called, bui few chosen." It has
ever been so. No preacher, however faithful, ever sees the major-
ity of his people for a course of years on the Lord's side. Payson
did not; Nettleton did not; Whitefield did not; the Apostle Paul
did not. He preached the vrord in Ephesus until " all that were
in Asia heard the word of the Lord," but even then it was true ;
many were called, few were chosen. When shall v/e see more
faithful, more successful preachers of the gospel than Paul? Yet
if we do not, what riglit have we to hope that more abundant suc-
cess will crown ministerial efforts? And suppose it should be true;
suppose a nation be born in a day ; suppose that " all shall know
the Lord," " thy people shall be all righteous," then what becomes
of our Saviour's words, " many are called but few chosen?"
I prefer supposing that there is a dispensation yet to come, as
far to surpass the present as the present surpasses the Levitical.
Nor do I think this o|)inion is justly liable to the charge of undei-
valuing our present privileges ; at least such is far from my inten-
tion ; and still less of throwing discredit on the work or power of
the ever blessed Spirit. But in the meantime, this glorious dis-
pensation is not come. And till it does come, he would be a most
unfaithful servant who should fold his hands, or neglect the work
("to every man his work," Mark xiii. 34) assigned him by his
Lord.
I cannot expect you should agree with all this. Some of it you
390 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
may think enthusiastic, or even fantastic ; but at present I do not
see otherwise.
Shall we let this subject drop ? I am not anxious to drop it, nor
to continue it. I try to hear calmly all that may be said against
it, and to state calmly all I have to say for it. Deeply important
as it seems to me to be, it is not a point of faith on which salva-
tion depends, and I should grieve extremely to make it a bone of
contention with those I love, and with whom I agree on so many
other points. I seldom speak of it here. I may be mistaken.
You may be mistaken ; or we may both be in some mistake. If
your views be true, then at the inevitable death that awaits us,
and which in all ordinary cases nature must dread, or at least
cannot desire, we shall see alike. If my views be true, then at
that glorious coming which my soul longs for exceedingly, and
which may be before either of us shall die, we shall both think alike.
I think I have the advantage in the prospect to which I look for-
ward, and that advantage is not marred by thinking that your
different views will prevent your enjoying it when it comes, though
it is a pity not to enjoy what is held up tbat we may enjoy it.
By God's grace I am preaching, though it be with stammering
lips, and m}'^ prospects of mastering the language are now so fair
that I would be very unwilling to leave this mission. I am,
therefore, satisfied and anxious to remain ; and my present feel-
ing, which indeed has almost always been my feeling, is not to
leave unless the Committee, who took the responsibility of sending
me to China, will take the responsibility of sending me away. I
am glad and happy to be here. It is true I am lonely, sometimes
very lonely, but this loneliness is appointed to me by Him who
knows better than I do wliat is best for me. I have not souglit it,
nor run into it rashly, and in due season it will be diminished ; or
if not, then it is best that it be so, and I will, if not gladly, at least
resignedly, or if not resignedly, at least praying to be resigned,
confess myself a stranger and a pilgrim on the earth.
The clock strikes twelve, p. m., and 1847 has begun. I have
disobeyed your injunction ; but, in the first place, it is very seldom
that this happens. I am almost always in bed before eleven.
Second, I was anxious to write as much of this letter as possible,
for it must be closed to-morrow or next da}'. 1 must confess I did
not mean to spin it out so long. Third, I do not disapprove of see-
ing the New Year in, and commencing it with prayer. I wish
you, and yours, a happy New Year.
I am always interested in the accounts of your church, and pray
for a blessing on it. If you are ever " disheartened" with any
among the people you have to deal with, just fancy what kind of
congregations /have. I will try and give you a peep at one, some
of these days, and you will not dare to say a word after that. That
leads me to ask, how much eg-olism is allowable occasionally
in articles for the Chronicle ? I could write an article now, on
preaching to a heathen audience, which might surprise and edify
JOURNAL AT NINGPO. 391
some of your hearers, and give them juster views of the real
nature of missionary work, than fifty Tabernacle speeches. I am
not boasting, for I grieve over a vast many speeches about mis-
sions that are published ; tliey are well meant, but all wrong.
But to give such an article, I must enter into my own feelings
pretty deeply, and write just as I would talk to you. or any other
dear friend, and the little pronoun ••!'' must come forward pretty
often. This is rather hazardous; some really humble men, like
Brother Sawyer, could do it very well; but there are very few who
can do it. Yet really, as far as I can see, such relations of one's
own experience are among the most interesting and profitable
articles ; for many a man, if he has only the right spirit, may
write an article of that kind well, who, if he attempted to write an
edifying article on general principles, would soon become very
dull
Your affectionate brother,
W. M. LOWRIE.
June 11th. There has been some talk of poisoning of late in a
district about a hundred miles from Ningpo, and some placards
have been sent here and pasted up in conspicuous places, warn-
ing the people not to take up articles of food that may be found
in the streets, lest they should contain poison. To-day my ser-
vant came in great trepidation, and said he had heard people say
that a man in the city, having eaten a cake, became suddenly
ill, and his body becoming black all over, he soon died. This
has aroused suspicion that the poisoners are abroad here. In
consequence of this, some persons have had a large number of
the above mentioned placards printed off here and distributed
about. This is considered a very meritorious act, though almost
the only efi'ect it can have, will be to create a panic terror among
the people.
June 12lh. The talk of poisoning is more general than ever;
and a man having been taken sick after eating a cake bought in
a shop, the shopkeeper was taken before the mayor of the cit}^,
and sentenced to be beaten with forty strokes of the bamboo.
This was chiefly to pacify the people, for many say that even if
the cake was the cause of the sickness, there is no proof that it
was not left in the shop by some evil-minded person without the
knowledge of the shopman. Among a multitude of reports that
are flying about, for the people are fairly panic-stricken, is one
which says that about one hundred pei'sons have lost their lives
in Seaou-shan, and another, that a Buddhist priest there being de-
tected, or at least suspected of being concerned in the nefarious
business, was seized by the people, and on examination was found
to have cakes and rolls, and drugs of various kinds concealed
about his person. In all probability the whole affair is a panic,
originating from some persons having been taken with cholera
392 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
morbus, a disease which the abundance of unripe fruit in this
warm weather may easily produce. Had it been really a case of
poisoning, and half so serious as the placards represented it, the
officers at Seaou-shan would doubtless have issued some procla-
mations, and sent suitable warnings, duly certified, to put the
people on their guard, but as yet not a solitary official notice of
the affair has come to light.
June 22d. The talk of poisoning still continues to harass the
people, and when any man has the least syniptoms of colic or
cholera, he at once fancies himself poisoned. The poor strolling
venders find their " occupation gone,"' and the respectable shop-
men are putting up cards, stating that the people need not ap-
prehend any danger from the articles purchased at their shops ;
also, that they will in no case receive back articles of food which
they may have sold, for fear that some persons may have put drugs
in them, and then taken them back in order to injure the unwary.
It is reported to-day that a family of seven persons just across the
bridge of boats, having eaten a certain kind of yellow fish, and
feeling unpleasantly, they all resorted to the disgusting specific of
the day for ciu'c.
The panic about the poisoners continued during all the month
of June and part of July; and far from being confined to Ningpo,
was as bad and even worse in places hundreds of miles off. In
Chusan, Chinhai, Funghwa, Shaou-hing, Woo-chow, Hangchow,
in this province, and even as far as Shanghai in the province
north of this, it caused extreme terror among all classes of tiie
people. It gradually died away during the month of July, but
was speedily succeeded by a report of a diiTerent kind, which pre-
vailed almost as extensively, and caused even more distress.
. The summer of 184(5 is likely to be long memorable in Ningpo,
on account of the many calamities, some real and some imaginary,
with which it was accompanied. The year has been fruitful in
terrors, and some were so wide-spread that it was impossible to
collect all the facts, or a tenth part of the reports concerning thenn.
Some of us heard one set of stories, and some another, and even
contradictory statements, which must account for some of the dis-
crepancies between the following sketch and some others that you
may have seen.
The jnonth of April v^'as distinguished by a season of unusually
rainy weather. There were but one or two fair days in the whole
month, and most of the lime the rain fell in torrents. It is in the
month of April that the rice is transplanted, and though some rain
is re([uired for this purpose, a superabundance is a great evil,
which was the case this year. In consequence of the rain the
officers of the city, about the middle of the month, appointed sacri-
fices, and, by way of further propitiation, ordered that for the
space of seven days no swine should be slaughtered for food.
This is called the Kintoo, or prohibition of slaughtering, and is
frequently resorted to in times of distress. But their miserable
JOURNAL AT NINGPO. 393
idols did not hear their prayers, and, as a last resort, about the
end of the month, some of them were put out in the rain ! The
rain ceased soon after this, and the people continued mad on
their idols.
During the month of May but little rain fell, and the weather
became rather warm, though not oppressively so. The summer
of 1815 had been so mild and pleasant that w^e did not think of
the weather becoming unusually hot this year. But the months
of June, July, and August, were dreadfully hot. None of us had
before experienced such long-continued hot weather. During the
three years that I was in Macao, although that place is eight de-
grees farther south than this, and in the torrid zone, the thermom-
eter never rose so high as it did here day after day, and even
week after week. Some houses and some situations were much
hotter thi\n others. My house being in a favorable situation for
the wind, was perhaps as comfortable a house as any in Ningpo,
and several others were much warmer. The sitting-room of my
house had a ceiling to it, and a fresh current of air all the time,
and yet during those three months the thermometer, in the middle
of the day, commonly rose above ninety degrees, and on eleven
different days it stood for several hours above ninety-eight degrees.
This v.as in the coolest place in the house ; in the open air, and
when exposed to the sun's rays, it rose rapidly to 130 degrees
and higher. You may imagine that it is not very conducive to
comfort to be breathing an atmosphere hotter than the tempera-
ture of one's oicii blood. The winds came in like blasts from a
fiu'nace ; and if the windows were shut to keep out the hot air,
the beating of the sun on our roofs made the houses like so many
ovens. The lightest clotlies were a burden, and we seldom vent-
ured out of the house except in the morning or after sunset. As
might be supposed, this weather was ver}'^ trying; several of our
number found it very hard to endure, and some were made quite
sick by it.
From the experience of the past summer, we have been com-
pletely convinced that good houses are indispensable to healtii in
this climate. We are at present all living in Chinese houses,
v/hich are not made for constitutions like ours. The low rooms
and thin roofs and walls, are miserable defences against the heat
of such burning suns. It is true we are not likely to have many
summers so hot as the past, for even the natives spoke of it as
" extraordinarily hot ;" but we shall have them occasionally, and
houses built under our own inspection, might be so arranged as
to diminish much of their oppressiveness.
Next, added to the oppressiveness of the heat, was the fearful
drought. I luive spoken of the abundant rains of April. They
were followed by a four months' drought which, like Pharaoh's
lean kine, devoured up every remembrance of the preceding rains.
During the months of May, June, July, and August, but one copi-
ous shower fell : and most of the time the licavons over us were
394 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
as brass, and the earth as powder and dust beneath our feet.
Clouds sometimes sailed over our heads, or gathered on the hills
around the city, and sometimes the thunder and a few drops of
rain excited our hopes, but they passed away again, and more
than once 1 have heard natives of tlie place say, as they saw them
disappear : Teen puh kiing lo yii, — ^" Heaven is unv.'illing to drop
rain." Vegetation suffered exceedingly. The deepest canals
were drained dry in the vain attempt to supply the wants of the
growing rice crops. The canals being dry, the internal navigation
of the country was in great measure stopped. Deep anxiety sat
on many faces. Public processions were appointed in honor of
the gods, and the officers of the city, on two or three separate oc-
casions issued the Kin-too, which was at last observed so rigidly,
that for nearly a month a pound of pork could be obtained only
by stealth and previous arrangement.
In my journal of August 17, 1 lind the following entry :
The drought still continues with unabated severity. No rain
of any consequence lias fallen for nearly three months, and the
sununer has been one of unusual heat. The first crop of rice is
scant, and it is doubtful whether any amount of rain would now
save the second crop. In some places the people are in distress
for want of water to drink, and those in the city who have not
stored up a sufficient supply of rain water, are obliged to buy
v/ater for daily use, at a price that interferes materially with the
small gains of the poorer classes. In consequence of all this there
is great distress throughout the land, and the people are Hocking
to the temples, and forming processions to beseech the gods to
grant rain. The country people and farmers who suffer most are
the most earnest. To-day I met one of the processions just come
in from the country, which must have numbered several thousands
of persons. It consisted of farmers and their sons, whose bronzed
skins bore witness to their daily occupations, and whose melan-
choly faces sliowed they were in earnest. I have seldom seen so
many really sad countenances. Nearly every person bore a long
bamboo with a few withered leaves on the end, and a napkin or
colored cloth attached to the middle. There were also sedan
chairs, lanterns, a siiip, and an idol god in a chair, with a table
and a smoking incense vessel before him. Gongs, and cymbals,
and drums, were beaten, and conch-shells and trumpets were
blown. A curious feature in the procession was the way in which
the windows of the sedan chairs and sides of the lanterns were
made. Across the frames were stretched large cobwebs, with nat-
ural flowers stuck on them, so that they looked like very fine em-
broidered gauze.
" When shall w^e have rain ? It assumes a very serious aspect,
now that for so long a time we have had none.
As if the real evils of the heat and drought were not enough,
the people added others fro)n their own folly and superstitions. I
have already spoken of the alarm caused by the report of poison-
JOURNAL AT NINGPO. 395
ers. This foolisli story graduall}'^ died away during the month of
July, but was succeeded by another equally appalling-, of which
the following extracts, entered in my journal at the time, will give
some account :
August 1, 184G. There has been no little excitement here for
a few days past, on account of a supposed visitation of evil spirits.
It seems that some persons living in the main street were awa-
kened a few nights ago by a great noise, as though a large body
of disorderly men were marching and carousing through the
streets. On looking out, however, nobody was seen, and the con-
clusion drawn w^as that the noise had been caused by cite jin, pa-
per men.* The story spread, and it was speedily reported that
there were tJn'ee thousand evil spirits, that they had been to Yu-
yaou and Funghwa, and have now come here, and will soon visit
Chinhai and Chusan. Of course they can have come for no good
purpose, and to drive them away, gongs and drums have been
beaten and crackers fired for several nights, filling the air with a
deafening noise for hours together. This has caused a great de-
mand for gongs, and it is said that the gong shops in the city have
disposed of nearly all they had on hand. In default of gongs,
brass kettles are supposed to be nearl3' as efficacious. Strips of
yellow paper witli four mystical characters, whose sound and sig-
nification no one pretends to know, have been sold by myriads,
and pasted up over every door and v.'indow, hoping to prevent the
entrance of the evil spirits.
"The reason for beating the gong? is thus explained: There
are two great principles called the Yang and the Yin, under whicli
all substances material or immaterial are supposed lobe arranged.
These two are in perpetual opposition, and if cither one of them
attams too much ascendency, great confusion is tlie inevitable re-
sult. It so happens that the evil spirits which cause all the
present disturbance belong to the Yin principle, while the sound
of brass vessels belongs to the Yang. ]3y beating the brass ves-
sels the Yang principle will be enabled to resist the too great
ascendency of the Yin, which is shown in the present incursion
of evil spirits, and thus it is hoped order will be again restored.
* These paper men seem to hold the same position in the superstitions of China that
the " I'aiiiihar spirits." held in the times of the Old Testament, or the '■ evil spirits." un-
der the control of conjurers and witches of our own and other Cliristian lanils. In the
History of the Three States, which is ])rohal)ly the most popular book of light readino-
in the Chinese kinguaiTe, is the tbilowing notice of them: '■ When the battle began
Chanir-paou commenced his mairical arts, whereupon arose a jjreat tempest of wind
and thunder; the dust flew about ; the stones rolled over; a hlack cloud overspread
the heavens, and. as it revolved men and horses came down from above. Thereupon,
at a convenient place Heuenteh irave the siijnal. and his men poured out the mixture
of the blood of swine, sheep and dojis. previously prepared. By doing this the power
of the magic spell was broken, and notliingwas seen in the heavens except paper men
and .>-traw horses rapidly falling. The wind and thunder ceased to sound, the sand
and stones became quiet again, and Ciiang-paou seeing his schemes confounded,
turned his head to flee, and liis followers were defeated with prodigious slaughter." In
the colloquial dialect of Ningpo. die Jin is changed into Tsz' an'e, and may be expressed
in English either by witches or evil spirits.
396 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Great, excitement prevails in the citj', and all the higher officers
are going in state to the temples, to pray that the evil spirits may
be driven away.
August 3d. We were aroused shortly after tliree o'clock, a. m.,
by an earthquake. Having been sound asleep, it was some
moments before I became aware of the real cause of the disturb-
ance. There was a dull heavy roaring in the air, coming from
the north gate of the city, and the roof of the house moved as if
being gradually lifted off by a strong wind. Thinking it was a
strong wind, I was about to get up and close the windows, when
I perceived that the bed and the whole house were moving from
end to end. Jumping up, and going to the window, I observed
that the motion still continued, and being now sensible of what
it was, and fearing lest the house should flill, I ran down stairs
and out of doors, and called to my people, who were all awake,
to come out. The motion, however, had ceased before I got out.
All this took up probably less than a minute, though how long
the shock might have lasted before I was awaked, I do not know.
The consternation that prevailed in the city was indescribable.
Owing to the rumors and panic caused by the fear of the evil
spirits, many people have been sitting up for several nights past,
and when the shock came it was so violent that even the sleepers
were awakened, and the universal idea was that the evil spirits
were coming to take the city by storm. The inmates of the house
next door to mine set up a terrific shriek, and in an instant the
Vidiole city with its quarter of a million of inhabitants, rang with
the beating of gongs, the firing of rockets and crackers, and the
shouts and crying of men in terror. To increase the alarm a
bright falling star shot froiu the zenith to the north, leaving along
train of light behind it, and to many terrified imaginations it
doubtless seemed as if the Yin and Yang principles were wrapped
in endless confusion, and heaven and earth about to end. The
noise and beating of gongs continued so long and loud that it was
impossible to distinguish any other sounds. I regretted this, for
once or twice I fancied there was the same dull, heavy roar that
struck me on first awaking, and the Chinese, thinking it was the
shouting of the evil spirits, cried out, "There they are! They
are coming !" It may have been, however, only the blended
sounds of rockets and gongs, and the cries of men in terror, as
they rose over the night air. It was with diflftculty I could pre-
vent even my own servants from joining in the uproar, and one
of them asked me, with a treiubling voice, "Teacher, is this the
evil spirit's coming?" Many cried like children when in fits of
the extremest terror. It was a solemn thought to think : if such
the terror occasioned by a single shock of an earthquake, what
will it be when the heavens and the earth shall pass away with a
great noise?
August 9th. In consequence of the earthquake, and especially
the strange sounds accompanying it, the belief in the presence of
JOURNAL AT NINGPO. 397
evil spirits has taken a still firmer hold on the mind of the people.
Multitudes of them have prepared green branches of trees, sup-
posing they would be of use in warding off the invisible foes, and
ilie most absurd rumors are abroad as to the cause of this visita-
tion. Many attribute their coming to the Roman Catholics, who
are about rel)uilding the chapel which they possessed here in the
reign of Kanghe, while others attribute them to the Protestant
missionaries.
One of our missionaries lives in the western part of the city,
and the people around him look with much suspicion on liim, and
on his wife. Among other things, they have it reported that
when he and his wife walk on the wall of the city near his house,
in the evening, they carry a bottle containing a number of these
invisible people with them ; it is further reported, that when they
take out the cork a number of evil spirits, of different sizes, come
out and kneel down to receive his commands, and then, on a sig-
nal, disperse themselves over the city. Another of our missiona-
ries is reported to have forty-nine of the evil spirits imder his con-
trol, and some of the worthy citizens who have seen me walking
on the wall about sunset, have reported that they saw a long
white devil walking there. All this is very unpleasant; the peo-
ple are becoming excited and alarmed, and if 1 hey were at all of
the disposition of the mobs in Canton, it would not be difncult to
arouse them to wreak vengeance on the few defenceless foreigners
here, whom they suppose to be the occasion of their calamities.
One innnediate effect has been, quite to break up my soirees on
the wall. I had been in the habit, for son)e weeks, of sitting down
to enjoy tiie cool breeze at twilight, on the wall near my house,
and very frequently had quite a little congregation of the people
to talk to, and converse with on religion and general topics, but
now. when I sit down there, not one comes near me.
The sound of a shaken leaf terrifies them. My next door
neighbors heard their paper windows rattling last night, and sup-
posing the evil spirits were coming, they commenced the usual
shrieking, shouting, and beating of gongs, much to my discomfort;
and there is scarcely a night in which I am not waked several
times by the noises around. Last night and to-night are perhaps
the crisis of the affair, for there is a report al)road, that six persons
of particular classes, will die to-night, if (hey liappen to fall asleep.
In consequence of this, all belonging to those classes (such as were
born under the influence of certain constellations) sat up all last
night, and will sit up all this night, fearing that if they sleep, they
will be of the number of the six that must die.
Verily, ' gross darkness covers the people.'
August 21. The rumors about the evil spirits have taken a
firmer hold than ever of the people's minds, and the most ridicu-
lous stories are in circulation. Some men have had their queues
cut off at night — of course by the witches, and the people are be-
coming excited. The drought still continues; we have been tan-
398 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
talized by cIotuIs!, and a drizzling mist, yesterday and to-day, but
they are clouds without rain. The dekision about the witches
has spread all over the j^rovince, and it is everywhere attributed
to foreigners. Placards have even l)een posted up at Ningpo, say-
ing that there will be no peace here till the foreigners are extir-
pated. My teacher went home a few days ago, and found his
i'amily in the greatest distress. He had not gone home for nearly
a month, and they thought I had either locked him up, or be-
witched him that he could not go. When he laughed at his
neighbors for their folly in believing in the spirits, they said, 'Oh
yes ! you are eating the bread of the foreigners, and it is very
well for you to say so.' One of Miss Aldersey's adopted orphan
children died a few days ago,_and the common report is that she
murdered it. It is connnon here to keep the dates of people's
births in the temples for astrological purposes. It has been re-
ported that some foreigners have been copying these registers, and
that all whose names are copied, will surely die. In consequence
great numbers of the people have gone to blot their names out,
lest the foreigners should lay schemes against their lives.
August 22. A little rain last night and to-day supplies us with water
to drink, and is very reviving to the crops and to the hopes of the
people. But still there is not enough to till the canals even partially.
August 25. As a last resort to drive away the evil spirits, a
procession has been got up in honor of Kwan-te, the god of w^ar.
Two companies of it v/ent past my house on the wall to-day, in
one of which the god was carried along in great state, in a chair
upborne by eight bearers. There were dragons, lanterns, gongs,
(fcc, (fee, as in other processions ; firing of crackers, and guns,
and noises of all kinds. Two or three companies of soldiers formed
part of the procession, marching in beautiful disregard of time and
order. The neighboring foo city of Shaou-hing having been cleared
of evil spirits by a procession in honor of Kwan-te, the people of
this city are induced to seek deliverance in the same manner.
How dreadful to see them so given up to idolatry ! I was deeply
pained as they passed my house, bearing their earthen gods, and
performing their silly rites. Oh Lord, how long ?
August 26. The procession is still kept up, going through
nearly every street in the city. As the neighborhood around my
house seems to have been particularly infested with the evil spirits,
probably on account of my being here, a second detachment came
past my house after eleven o'clock at night. The effect of the nu-
merous lanterns was very pretty, but it is sad to see such worship
paid to men. This Kwan-te flourished about sixteen hundred
years ago. He is one of the three great heroes in the San kwo
che, or History of the Three States, and was a native of the depart-
ment of Shaou-hing, which borders on Ningpo,
Nothing was heard of the evil b-pirits after the procession.
The people Jiaving full confidence in the power of Kwan-te, their
imaginations were at rest, and the evil spirits departed !
JOURNAL AT NINC.PO. 399
September 4. Rain at last! ?.Ioie rain has fallen to-day than
all that has fallen shice the first of May. It is a great blessing.
'He sendeth rain on the just and on tlie unjust.'
September 5. In consequence of the rain the kin too, or pro-
hibition of slaughtering animals for food, after being in force for
several weeks, has been withdrawn. Images of the gods from all
the different temples had been collected at one place, for the con-
venience of the chief officers of the city, who went there daily to
pray to them altogether to send rain. In consequence of the rains,
they have now been all taken back to their respective temples.
October 3. 'It never rains but it pours.' Tlie long drought
of the summer has been followed by a month of rains, nearly as
fatal to the hopes of the husbandman. The canals are full and
overflowing, and the fields are flooded. V/ithal it is cool, and it
is now doubtful whether the crops will ripen. The first crop was
short, and the second crop, after being withered by the drousrht,
and nearlv drowned bv the rain, is not in a condition to come to
maturity in the moderate and cool weather now coming on. A
plain-looking man. in the ferry-boat, as I crossed over to-day. was
expressing his belief tiiat the gods pay no attention to what is done
on the earth. 'In the spring they heard not the prayers for dry
weather. In the summer they heard not the prayers for rain.
Now it is raining too uiuch. 1 believe that heaven rains just to
please itself.'
In consequence of the cool weather, but a very small portion
of the second crop of rice was worth anything. In many fields
the farmers did not attempt to gather it.
October 4th, 1S46. To-day conmienced a Chinese service in
my house. Put up a notice at the door, inviting choo jiang yeic,
"all the friends," to come and hear; prepared seats for about
fort}- ; and about the hour my servant went to the door and in-
vited the passers-by to come in. Except that the words were
spolsicn with a totally opposite intention, they were reiiiarkably
apropos. See Prov. ix. 15, 16, to call passengers who go right on
their ways. "Whoso is simple let him turn in hither, and as for
him that wanteth understanding,"' 6cc. Some came in with their
burdens ; some looking half afraid ; some ran riirht out again :
some stood up ; some sat down ; some smoked their pipes : some
said w!iat is the use of staying, he is a foreigner, and we do not
tmderstand foreign talk ; the attention was none of the best, for
it required all my courage and presence of mind to keep going,
and the people feeling quite free to talk and make remarks, I got
along no better than I aiuicipated. I am not discouraged, though
by no means flattered by the result of this day's experiment.
There were some forty persons present.
October 16th. A revolting instance of cruelty occurred opposite
my window. A poor beggar who had only a coarse thin pair of
trowsers. and a straw mat for his shoulders, in weather when I
find woollen clothes comfortable, had by some means obtained
400 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
eighty cash, equal to five cents, from a Chinese of this place.
This morning the creditor came upon him for the money, and as
he had not wherewith to pay him, began to beat him unmerci-
fully. First, he struck him on the head and face with his fist ;
then he caught him by the hair, and beat him on the arms ; then
he took his queue or tail in one hand, and putting his foot on the
poor man's back, pulled till I thought the man's hair would have
come all out ; then he struck him again fiercely in the face ; and
finally taking off his shoe, he began beating him on the bare
back. The beggar all this time made no resistance, but uttered
piteous cries, and falling down beat his head on the pavement,
asking mercy ! Several Cliinese passed, and some looked on, but
none made any attempt to interfere. Finding the brute con-
tinued his beating, I could stand it no longer, and going down, I
laid my stick on his back not very gently. He looked up in some
surprise, and seemed half enraged and half frightened, to find a
foreigner interfering. I asked him what he meant, and why he
beat the beggar so? He sputtered out some words, but began to
edge off, as if he would like to be awa}^ ; so I told him to clear
out, and gave him another blow with my stick. I had half a
notion to break it over his back. He seeined glad to get off so
well, and went away in a hurry. The poor beggar's gratitude
was inexpressible. He lay down, beat his head on the ground,
and between his sobs and tears and bleeding face, let me know
how much he was obliged to me. I gave him a few cash, and
one of my servants, who seemed much interested, gave him an
old garment. Q,uite a crowd had come around us, who seemed
quite pleased at the turn affairs bad taken.
October 18th. A larger and better audience than I have yet
had and very attentive. Oh, for a blessing ! Otherwise it is only
speaking to dry bones. One young man among others who stayed
after the service, was anxious to defend himself from the charge
of the folly of idolatry, and declared the monks and nuns were a
great nuisance ; that he thought the monks had better marry the
nuns, let their hair grow, destroy the temples, and follow the
advice of Confucius, to " honor the gods and keep them at a
distance."
October 25th. Service not so well attended to-day ; more dis-
order, fewer persons, and less attention ; must expect difficulty in
keeping up the services. If it is hard to conunand full and atten-
tive audiences at home, how much more so here, where the
preacher is at best but imperfectly understood, speaks of strange
subjects, sanctified in the mind of his hearers by no familiar or
early associations, and of which they see no possible use? Surely
were it not for the Word of God, the missionary enterprise were
the most foolish experiment of the age. Oh, for God's Spirit !
What can man do ?
November 1st. A rainy day, but a good many people in the
street, going past my house ; though the most of them carried bur-
JOURNAL AT NINGPO, 401
dens or bundles. There are many weddings about this time, and
I expected a small audience ; made all ray preparations, however,
and went to my chapel ; sat awhile, and one ixian came in and sat
down ; determined to keep iiim if I could ; I commenced a conver-
sation, but he seemed frightened at finding himself alone, and re-
marked, '' nobody has come yet, and I'll not stop novv-, I'll come
back soon !" So off he went, and no more caiuc. Many passed
the door, a few looked at the notice, but all v.^ent their ways, one
to his farm, another to his merchandise. After waiting till I was
satisfied that nobody would come, (my servant had already invited
a number of the passers-by to come in,) I shut the door, and went
and prayed. Then prepared a somewhat attractive card, both to
paste up on the door, and to distribute about, stating that there is
preaching here, (fee. If this does not succeed, then I see no way
but to get a better location, or to go out into the streets and by-
ways, the highways and hedges, and speak unto them. Probably
a chapel in any place, after the novelty Vv'ore off, would be de-
serted; certainly, I suppose, unless the Spirit be poured out from
on high. Oh Lord, visit this people !
Q,uite cold to-day ; thermometer down to 51^, and a foot-stove
quite comfortable.
November 2d. Q^uite a wintry morning; thermometer down to
43"^, which is much lower than we saw it daring this whole month
last year; not prepared for it, not having my stove up, nor cracks
stopped ; laut it has moderated some towards evening.
Went to call on the Sz' family, the head of which has recently
died. He was, take him all in all, the most respectable man I
have known in Ningpo. He died of apoplexy ; might probably
have been spared, had the fiimily been willing to have hini bled ;
but as the Chinese have a great horror of blood-letting, they would
not consent, and the poor old man died by inches. Poor, verily I
for he knew enough of the truth and rejected it. Oh how dread-
ful is the reflection, that in the vast majority of cases, our labors
only seal this people in deeper destruction. They would have
perished if v/e had not come. We come and speak to them ; they
refuse to receive our words, and sink into deeper miser3\ But are
we free from all blame in this? Do they see us so in earnest as
to be convinced that we really mean what we say? I fear, often
not.
My servant Azhih has been getting married ; the process has been
about this : — It is the parents' duty to provide iuisbands and wives
for their daughters and sons. His mother was old ; had no one
in the house to attend her; and it was thought, by his marrying,
she might get a daughter to wait on her. So after long searching
and inquiring, a damsel was pitched upon. Tiie Mei jin, middle
man, (or woman, for it may be either or both ; one is indispensable,
and yet it is not a very reputable occupation ;) recommended sev-
eral, whom Azhih's mother went to see ; but one was too short,
and another was lame, and another was valued at too high a
26
402 MEMOIR OP WALTER M. LOWRIE.
price, and another, being the daughter of a literary man, her family-
thought they would be degraded by her marrying a serv^ant. Fi-
nally one was found who satisfied the demands of the careful
mother ; but a high price was asked. It was finally agreed to
give seventy-four dollars for her, and the bargain was concluded.
The bride was to be furnished by her friends, with a quantity of
good clothing and other things, and so the papers were written, and
presents of cake, wine, &c., exchanged, which sealed the contract.
In the meantime, however, several messengers passed from each
party to the other, to see the height, appearance, manners, dispo-
sition, &c., of the man and woman, all which particulars were re-
spectively communicated.
It was then necessary to select a wedding-day. This is com-
monly done by lot, and the ninth moon and twelfth day was
finally decided on. Several months passed between the contract
and the wedding, in which not much seems to have been done on
either side. At length the important day drew near. It is a time
of much more trouble to the groom than to the bride, for all the
arrangements are made at the house of the groom's parents ; cards;
of invitation were sent round in due form.
We went to the house of the groom's mother on the appointed
day, and found all things ready, and the groom waiting with some
impatience for the arrival of the bride. The " flowered chair" had
been sent for her. About twelve o'clock a great cry was made, " the
flowered chair is coming !" Crackers were fired, and in the bustle
the groom disappeared. The chair was brought in and set just
before the main room, which was hung all round with inscriptions
and ornamented with lanterns, a table was spread with some can-
dlesticks and inscriptions.
Before this table was a mat and cushion for the leader of cere-
monies ; and behind this, a mat and two cushions for the bride
and groom. The bride was dressed rather richly, but her face
was quite covered by a square red cloth, that hung over her head.
Her attendants led her to her cushion, where she stood a little
while, when out came an aunt of the groom, richly dressed, with
the rod of a Chinese steel-yard in her hand. With this she tap-
ped the bride lightly on the head, and then took off the square cap
which covered her head. The bride, however, had another cloth
of the same kind on her head, which still kept her face concealed.
At this stage of the ceremonies, out stepped the groom, and took
his place beside the bride, on her right, and then commenced the
ceremony of Pae tan^, worshipping in the hall When this
worshipping was finished, the bride's attendants spread five rice
bags on the ground, expressive of the wish, that for five genera-
tions there might be no lack of rice in the family. The groom
stepped in front of the bride, and one of her attendants took up
the skirt of his outer robe, and put it in the bride's hand, and
they walked slowly and in state over the rice bags, to the bride's
chamber, the bride supported by the two attendants all the way.
JOURNAL AT NINGPO. 403
Here the covering- was taken off her face, and for the first time
the groom saw iiis wife. The groom did not remain long, but
came out and sat down among the guests ; and in about hah' an
hour, the bride came out in another dress, with her head covered
with an ornamental head-dress, and strings of beads hanging
down on all sides She was then supported to the reception-
room, and the attendants held back the strings of beads, to give
the guests an opportunity of looking at her. While this was
done, she shut her eyes, and then went into her own apartment ;
whereupon, after staying a short time longer, we came away,
leaving the native guests to feast on the dishes. We were most
earnestly invited to remain and partake of the feast ; but as we
could not eat of the feast spread, which we knew was "offered in
sacrifice," and as we feared we would only be an unpleasant re-
straint on the company, if we had another table spread for our-
selves, we came away.
All those who come to the wedding are expected to bring a
present; and a book is kept to record the names of the donors, and
things presented. A common present is two hundred cash, wrap-
ped up in red paper. Those who send any present are entitled to
receive a card.
Nov. 4th. Walking along the wall on my way home this even-
ing, I found one of the guard-houses, which is at present inhal>
ited by a man who has often asked me to stop : so, having a little
time, I sat down, and had some little conversation with him
He and his wife are allowed to live in this house by the officers,
on condition that they watch to see that the stones of the city-wall
are not carried away by thieves. The man is about thirty-nine
years old, and his wife is forty- two ; has no sons, but two daugh-
ters, who are married to people in the city. He makes his living
by peddling fruits about the streets ; says he goes to the stores
and buys a quantity, which he retails at a small profit. Sells
about 1000 cash' worth a day, and makes about 100, equal to
seven cents and a half, on which he and his wife live ; says it is
scarcely enough even to provide them food, while there are so
many thieves in his neighborhood, that he can keep nothing in
his house. He was very polite, and urged me to go and see a
great procession to be held to-morrow. This brought on a con-
versation about idolatry, and the worship of the true God, and I
told him of God and of Christ. He professed to approve highly
of what I said ; and his wife coming back just then, he repeated
to her a part of what I had told him, and both, as a matter of
course, pronounced it very good.
November 8th. A rather pleasant day. People seemed slow in
coming into chapel ; and as several went out before I began
speaking, I thought it best to try and secure the rest, some four or
five, so i sat down and commenced. Had uttered but a few sen-
tences, when other.s, finding there was talking going on, came in;
and 1 soon had to stand up and address them. Presently I had
404 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
some thirty persons, to whom I talked for twenty minutes, but not
very fluently, nor satisfactorily; and then, after prayer, gave notice
that I would preach on the next Sabbath, and most of them went
away. Gave tracts to a few, and some more passers-by came in ;
gave away more tracts, and more came in. Had some talk with
a Mr. Fang, the most respectable-looking man I have seen in
Ningpo. He complained that the style of our tracts is too low
and mean, but seemed pleased with the " Character of the true
God." One man came in, and asked if the talking was over? I
said yes. He expressed great sorrow, or rather regret, and then
said, '•' Well, since I can't hear you talk, won't you give me a
book ?" Of course I gave him one. I then talked some on the
foil}'' of idolatry, with very good attention, after which Mr. Fang
and others went away. Mr. Fang gave up most of their idols, but
insisted that if the local gods were not worshipped, men would
get sick. Told him I did not worship them, and yet I was not
sick. " Oh, you are a foreigner," said somebody on one side.
Finding that more people were there, I commenced and talked
my sermon, the birth and preaching of John, over again, to about
forty persons ; got along rather better than the first time. Thus
altogether, I have been enabled to give some fragments of truth
to about one hundred persons, and to distribute, and I hope pretty
advantageously, some forty tracts. Oh God, add thy blessing!
Afterwards, Ching Seensang, a native convert, assistant to Dr. Mac-
gowan, brought a couple of friends, whom he described as inquirers,
to ask for an explanation of "no man after drinking old wine, &.c."
I gave them a copy of my Commentary on Luke as far as printed,
and had some little conversation with them. One of them re-
marked, that a man could get over ever3^thiiig but giving up the
worship of ancestors ; but it was a hard thing to be a Christian,
because they niust worship ancestors. Here was forcibly shown
the deficiency of this language, to express our religious ideas. The
same word is used both to worship the gods, and to pay respect to
men. And a person disposed to do so, might easily say, that
when he worships ancestors, he does it only in the latter sense.
It is certain, however, that it is done in the former ; but it is very
inconvenient to have no exclusive terms for the worship of God.
He said they did not pay much veneration to ancestors above the
degree of grandfather's grandfather.
November 15th. In the afternoon I preached on the miracles of
Christ, to a small, fluctuating, and disorderly congregation. I was
greatly interrupted by their talking, and especially by a crowd of
boys, who came in, and behaved without manners. Spoke with
more fluency and satisfaction to myself than I have yet done ;
but it seems like speaking to the wind and waves, or writing one's
name on the sand. Spirit of God, breathe on these dry bones !
November 22d. Preached in the afternoon twice, on the death
of Christ. Commenced with three or four persons, but more
dropped in till there were twenty or thirty, by the middle of the
JOURNAL AT NINGPO. 405
discourse. Some were very attentive. So many kej)t coming in,
that after the first company were gone, I preached the same dis-
course over a second time, and had some forty or fifty at tlie close.
Generally pretty good attention, but I was excessively fatigued.
An hour's almost constant talking in a strange language, and to an
audience where there are always some uinuly ones, is no easy work.
Some come in and go out ; some make remarks ; one or two smoked
pipes ; and one or two were rude enough to make remarks in a very
loud voice as they went out, apparently for the purpose of showing
how little they cared for what was going on. I have not yet
learned to talk at ease amidst all the interruptions which I foresee
I must expect in this work ; but give me such a day as this — I
mean in regard to numbers and attention — and for a while at
least, I shall rejoice. Yet to many of the hearers, all they hear
must be the merest scraps ; something, to allude to Amos, like the
" two legs, or a piece of an ear," which others, more eager for some-
thing, have sometimes got. Well, "faith cometh by hearing ;" and
I do rejoice, that, however imperfectly, T can yet give some of this
people the opportunity of hearing. Oh for the living Spirit to
breathe on the dry bones, and bless the Word.
November 29th. Weather quite cold of late at night, and ther-
mometer twice down to 34° before sunrise, but a clear day to-day,
and it got up to 66° ; very pleasant.
Preached in the afternoon twice, on the resurrection and as-
cension of Christ, with pretty good attention both times. One
man, who came too late for the first service, said, " I don't care
about books, but I want to hear you talk." Yet there was more
eagerness for the books than 1 have often seen. How delightful
to be able to speak with any fluency. There were some old
men there, tottering on the brink of the grave ; will the seed
thus sown ever spring up?
When I was in Macao, my great anxiety was to get here ;
arrived here, and was satisfied for a short time ; but then became
anxious to be able to talk, and thought I would be satisfied if I
could only talk ; can talk a little, and for a while was almost sat-
isfied ; but now 1 want to see fruit. Perhaps if permitted to see
it, I may be anxious to see it ripen ; if it ripens, to see it safely
stored away. When shall I be freed from anxiety? When but
in heaven ? Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. I shall be satisfied
when I see thee, or awake in thy likeness.
December 6th. Preached on the divinity of Christ, with a good
deal of satisfaction to two difl'erent audiences ; the second very
full and generally very attentive, and very eager for tracts.
December 13th. Had the emptyings of a theatre to fill my
house, which it did to overflowing. It gave me a larger audience
than usual ; but those in the back seats were so incommoded by
the crowd, that they could have heard but little. Preached on
the Creation. One man seemed greatly struck by the account
of the institution of the Sabbath ; and another, by a comparison
406 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
of the sun to a candle. Would he thank the candle, or the man
who gave him the candle? " A true remark," he exclaimed very
earnestly. The crowd not being very orderly, I gave away no
books ; and having preached twice already in English, I did not
feel like adding a second Chinese service, as I should have been
glad to have done in ordinary circumstances.
December 20th. Preached on the Fall of Man ; but not very
satisfactorily ; several of the hearers looked as if they thought, I
was talking great nonsense.
December 27th. Preached on the Flood ; audience small, but
tolerably attentive ; labored a good deal in the discourse, and
stumbled over it, not very fluently. Find myself advancing some-
what in command of the language, but still find it a hard thing
to '' speak in another tongue."
We have had much fine weather this winter, and as yet scarcely
any ice. Only one unpleasant Sabbath since October 4th, so that
I have been much favored in ray poor accommodations for my
audiences. In cold weather, I could scarcely have a service ; but
hitherto, the Sundays have been delightful.
CHAPTER IX.
1847.
MISSIONARY LABORS AT NINGFO VOYAGE TO SHANGHAI MANCHU LANGUAGE
CHINESE TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE — IMPORTANCE OF SELECTING PROPER
TERMS.
Until the latter end of May, Mr. Lovvrie continued liis regular
Chinese services on the Sabbath ; and during the week he found
many opportunities of making known the truths of the Christian
system. A portion of each day was given, with increased interest,
to the preparation of his Chinese dictionary, his plan enlarging as
he advanced with the work.
Having been appointed one of the delegates for the revision of
the translation of the Bible, he reached Shanghai early in June ;
and when his colleagues assembled, he took part with them in this
important work. Much time was taken up in deciding on the
proper Chinese word to be used for the Elohim of the Old Testa-
ment, and the Theos of the New. This question he had carefully
examined before the meeting of the delegates, and his further re-
searches led him very clearly to prefer the Chinese word Shin.
It was his firm conviction, that to use the Chinese Shang-te, or
the word T'e, for the true God, was only to confirm the Chinese
in their idolatry.
Among his last letters is one to his father, expressing his inten-
tion of studying the language of the Manchu Tartars, and request-
ing that the necessary books might be procured and forwarded.
He did not overrate the advantages which a knowledge of this
language would afford to the missionary cause ; and it will be for
those still laboring for the evangelization of this great people, to
carry out this and other important measures of usefulness which
he left unfinished.
The essay on the trials and discouragements of the foreign mis-
sionary, preceded by a note from his friend Mr. Culbertson, closes the
present selection from his writings. Although some of the senti-
4UO MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
ments are expressed in his previous letters and journals, it was
deemed best to publish tbis paper entire. His trials and sorrows
were soon to cease. The work assigned to him by the Head of
the Church was all finished. On the 19th of August, he was
called, as we trust, to exchange this scene of conflict and of trial
for the joy of his Lord. The particulars of this mysterious and
distressing dispensation of Divine Providence, — the estimate of
his character by those who knew him well,^ — and the expression
of deep affliction caused by his death, will be given by other pens
in the succeeding chapter. Whilst his relatives and friends bow
in humble submission to the will of God, and whilst they know
most assuredly that nothing happens by chance in the govern-
ment of Him who lias all power in heaven and in earth, the stroke
is so severe, the wound so deep, and so many endeared ties have
been broken asunder, that the}?^ cannot but mourn and weep over the
early grave of this beloved missionary. He who wept at the grave
of Lazarus, does not forbid the hallowed tears of his bereaved and
afflicted servants.
Ningpo, January 18th, 1847.
Rev. John C. Lowrie —
My Dear Brother : — I do not know that I have anything of
consequence to write at present. Everything moves on quietl_y.
.... I find myself now making perceptible progress in reading
and sjieaking, and begin at last to feel as if I had mastered the
chief difficulties in tlie outset of this hard language. You will, I
trust, join with me in gratitude for this. Mind, I do not consider
myself a scholar, or anticipate no further diificulties, for I can sec
enough to know that it is a rough and stony path yet. and up hill
too. i do not despair, however, if life, and health, and grace be
given, to make at least very respectable acquisitions in the lan-
guage. One of the greatest difficulties I meet now, is a tempta-
tion to devote myself too much to the merely literary part of the
work. For I find I have made such progress as, notwithstanding
all the difficulties, to find real pleasure in the study; and withal,
there is a field of investigation and thought, of philosophy and of
poetry in the language, which is well worthy of cultivation. Do
not smile at this. Notwithstanding the witty articles of the Re-
pertory, the Chinese are no fools, and they have said and done
things worthy of great renown. I begin to have a real veneration
for Confucius, and to doubt whether any heathen philosopher ever
saw so much truth as he did ; while my tastes are becoming so
Chinese, that I find eloquence and poetry, and what not, in multi-
tudes of forms. You may laugh as much as you please at my
tastes, but let those laugh that Vv'in. However, seriously, I do feel
LETTERS. 409
that there is danger of attending to merely hterary pursuits, to the
neglect of the far more important duties of one whose chief busi-
ness it should be to know nothing but Christ, and him crucified.
Pray for me.
Your affectionate brother,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Ningpo^ January 23d, 1847.
My Dear Father —
I had meant to write to you pretty fully on the 19lh, being the
anniversary of my departure from home five years ago; but then
and since 1 have been so engaged, that it has beea quite out of
my power, and I can only scribble otf a few lines this evening.
My health is very good, but I find myself obliged to relax a little
in my studies for fear of injuring )ny eyes, which gave me some
symptonis of failing a few days ago that quite alarmed me. They
are, however, nearly well now, and I hope will not suffer. Your
letter of August 28th, and the list of characters sent by Mr. Sword,
came duly to hand January 9th We shall endeavor to send
the list of characters back as soon as possible; it will require a
good many additions. I observe, too, several crossed out of the
printed list, and inserted in the manuscript, which I suppose must
be ati error in copying. I am sorry you have struck out so many
of the primitives. Would it not be worth while to try and get a
font of the primitives for printing notes'? 1 doubt whether the
plan of printing extensively with the primitives of the Paris type
can be carried into effect, on account of the too great contraction
of many of the characters ; but this will not apply to the primitives
of the i3erlin font. Hence I would advise that as many of them
be procured as possible. I made some progress, some time ago, in
making out a list of primitives and characters for such an addi-
tional font, but did not complete it ; and with what I have on hand
now, and t!ie necessity of sparing my eyes, or at least not taxing
them any more, I would not like at present to undertake to finish
it. Pj'obably, too, it is better to get the whole font first, and see
about the additional font afterwards ; but it might be well enough
to keep it in view, and see wliether Mr. Byerhaus will undertake it.
I have nearly finished collecting the meaning of the different
words in Mencius, in pursuance of my scheme of a Dictionar}'^ of
the Four Books, and hope to be through with Mencius next week.
Thus far I have got meanings to eighteen hundred and fifty-eight
separate characters, and have noted many meanings to different
words, oC which Morrison's Dictionary takes no notice, and some
meanings which I have not met in a?jy dictionary. I think I have got
the correct meaning of the Avord ;^^ Taou, which has bothered
me very often, and of which I have been able to find no satisfac-
tion in any of the Lexicons. Its primary meaning seems to be a
410 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
road, but its meaning as used ethically, which is its common and
most important one, 1 take to be Anthropology, — -excuse the word,
it comes the nearest to express the idea. In Christianity, the most
important science is Oeoloyut^ the science or word that treats of
Godi Confuciusism keeps God at a distance, (King kwei shin urh
yuen che, as Confucius says,) and makes a God of man ; hence the
most important object of knowledge in this system is i^ Taou, or
^vdoMnoXoyut^ the scieuce or word that trfeats of man. I got this idea
from a passage in Mencius, which I was studying yesterday, " Jin
yay chay, jin yay, ho. urk che Taou yay," " This humanity is
man, uniting both in one description, it is Anthropology." The
note on this passage is. " Humanity is the principle which consti-
tutes man a man ; man without humanity is a mere lump of flesh
and blood. Humanity without man is a mere abstraction ; but
humanity and man together constitute a perfect man, and are de-
scribed by Taou, Anthropology." 1 have not had time to investi-
gate how this new signification will correspond with the use of
the word in other places, nor do 1 know whether you care much
about such morsels of philology. They are dry enough to most
persons, but thinking it might possibly interest you, I throw it in
here.
I take a good deal of interest in this work, because, whether 1
ever finish it or not, or, if finished, whether it is ever published or
not, I find it is giving me a considerable insight into the genius
and correct meaning of the language, and 1 find it time well spent.
But it requires some care and self-denial, lest, by attending too
closely to it, I injure my eyes and healtji, and neglect more im-
portant duties. 1 find myself improving some in the ability to
prepare and deliver my weekly discourses in Chinese, and hope
ere long to be able to increase the number of my services. But
oh, for the Spirit's influences ! I had a long talk with a young
man this afternoon, as we were walking along the road, but it
was like beating a bag of wool. He assented to everything, and
probably forgot everything before I was out of sight.
.... I nmst close now. My letter is not half so long as 1 feel
like writing it, but it is Saturday night, and I must prepare for
the Sabbath. That every blessing may rest on you, and all our
beloved family, is the daily prayer of
Your aflfectionate son, W. M. Lowrie.
Ning'po, January 25th, 1847.
Rev. Levi Janvier —
My Dear Brother Janvier : — Your very acceptable letter
of September 19th, reached me on the 9th inst. I could have
wished it had been longer, for though it was really " multum in
parvo," yet about letters I often feel like one of the charity boys in
Oliver Twist, " Please, sir, I want some more."
LETTERS. 411
I sympathize with you sincerely in your repeated bereavements ;
but how much nearer heaven you must feel with such messengers
sent before you. It will not be long. It often seems to me as if
few persons could have such anticipations of the bliss of heaven,
as we missionaries ought to have ; for living in so much solitude,
or rather in a society more lonely than solitude, how ought we
to rejoice in the anticipation of that home where we shall rejoin
the friends we have lost, and uiiugle with the spirits we love for-
ever and ever. I feel more and more the loneliness of missionary
life to be one of its greatest trials. I suppose being single makes
me feel it still more, but the idea of walking day after day, for
years together, in crowded streets, without meeting among all the
people any who care for Jesus, or of looking out over crowded
graves, and being obliged to say, "none of these will rise to glory,"
is a very desolating reflection.
I am a good deal encouraged of late in my work, from having
at last got my niouth opened. You know I am rather a slow
speaker, and for a while I feared I never would learn this dreadful
language. This was increased a good deal by finding some of
my brethren who came out after me, outstripping me in learning
to talk. To be sure 1 had peculiar difficulties to contend with ;
but still it was very discouraging after being nearly four years in
China, to find myself so poor a talker. However, I have now
been preaching regularly for several months, and find myself im-
proving rapidly. I see no reason why, in ordinary cases, a per-
son may not speak pretty fluently in two years. It is diiferent with
regard to the written language, and after five years' labor, one is
little better than a beginner.
We have, on the whole, a delightful climate here. A heavy
fall of snow last night made everything look homelike, but it all
melted away during the day.
There is now a good deal of preaching going on here. We are
all more or less engaged in it, except Brother Way, whose time is
very profitably employed in the school. I should do a good deal
more than I do, did I not feel it a duty to endeavor to master the
written language, which is not to be done in a day, or a year
either ; but if life and health be spared, I hope to accomplish it in
due time. Our congregations, however, are not large, and they
fluctuate a great deal. The attendance varies from five to fift}^,
and I seldom see the same faces more than two or three times.
It is seed sown by the wayside, literally and spiritually ; for my
house is on a thoroughfare, "and those who go right on in their
ways." " turn in hither," to hear this new doctrine. At present it
is curiosity. I suppose by and by curiosity will give way to indif-
ference ; then indiiference to contempt ; and then to o|)en opposi-
tion, before we see much fruit. (3h, for faith and patience ! I judge
from some of your letters which I have seen, that you know both
" hope deferred that maketh the heart sick," and deep discourage-
ment at apparently unsuccessful labor. I have some experience
412 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
of both ; but it is a blessed thing lo know tiiat if faithful "we are
a sweet savor in I hem that arc saved, and in them that are lost."
Yet it is a melancholy thought that our coming here is hkely to
be the occasion of aggravated condemnation to many more than
we shall probably benefit by our labors. It is in a small degree
true of us, as of our Master, " if we had not come and spoken to
them they had not had sin, but now they have no cloak for their
sin." However, we should not escape from this reflection by stay-
ing at home ; for doubtless every clergyman may say the same.
Even Paul was no exception, for he preached in Ephesus until
" all that were in Asia heard the word," and yet how few were
saved ! You have doubtless thought all this before now.
I am very anxious to know what term you use for God. Is it
a name of any one heathen god ; or the genuine name for God ;
or is it a new term introduced by missionaries? What is the San-
scrit term ansv/cring to our word God 7 and its precise meaning?
With kindest regards to Mrs. Janvier and your associates, be-
lieve me,
Ever yours in the Gospel of Christ,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Ningpo, February 19th, 1847.
My Dear Mother —
.... The weeks slip by with a rapidity that would be frightful,
were it not for the calm and pleasing hope that they are wafting
nie to a home where in all labor there is no sorrow. I can hardly
realize that six weeks of the present year are gone already, but
so it is. Yesterday too was my birthda}' ; finished twent3^-eight
years, and commenced my twent3^-ninth ; and it is more than five
years since I saw you last. You will ask, what am I doing that
makes me so busy ? Why, I write a sermon in English about
once a month ; a sermon in Chinese each week ; an average of
two or three letters each week, (full letters, notes not counted;)
correct two or three proofs in Chinese every week, each proof a
good hour's work ; and ihen to fill up and overflow every hour
besides, I have this copious unfathomable language, which I find
I must study in winter, and take easily in summer. I am, how-
ever, now so far advanced, as to find a great deal of real satis-
faction in the study ; and being thus encouraged by success, do
not again apprehend the tedium and labor which I found in it for
so long a time. I can now read an ordinary book without assist-
ance from a teacher, though of course I can read much faster and
easier with him by my side, and I hope ere long to be able in a
great measure to dispense with a teacher in translating from
Chinese into English. I am not yet begun to ask, when I can
do without one in translating from English into Chinese ; that
point is as yet many years off. I do not know how much you
practise Chinese now, but a pretty little thought came into my
LETTERS. 413
head a few days ago ; it may be in some book I have read, but I
have no recollection of having met it anywhere. You perhaps
know that the word neen means to think. Now just divide that
character in two, and you have Jdii sin, " ?ioio heart,^' i. e., what
is now in the heart, which is not a bad definition of tlioughts.
But perhaps this smells too much of the lamp for you. So, for
more domestic concerns, I have lost my beautiful dog Fanny.
She followed me out into the street one day, and got to frisking
about, and got lost in the crowd. I should have felt quite melan-
choly had it happened a few months sooner ; but tlie fact is,
though very beautiful, slie was so utterly useless tiiat I did not
regret her going. Instead of barking, she fawned on every
stranger that came in, and followed everybody that called her in
the street. So it seems a fair exterior is no better proof of good
qualities in dogs than in men. I've got a little pup now, who
yelped incessantly when I got liim, until at last the cat took pity
on him, and took him under her care. This comforted his heart
very much, and he is now famous for eating rice and milk, and
worrying the cat, and gives promise of being worth something
more before long. I call him Jim.
Our winter has been mild, and is now pretty much over. We
have had both ice and snow, but no weather so cold as a good
deal that we had last year ; and as Ave all knew better how to
prepare for it, we have got along very comfortably. I think too
we shall not have so severe a summer. . . .
With much love and many warm tlioughts,
Ever affectionately yours, W. M. Lowiiie.
Ningpo, March 20th, 1847.
My Dear Father —
Your letters of July 29, September 1, September 11-29, and
October 30, all came the same day, March 11. Many thanks,
for every scrap of your pen is precious to me; especially when I
know that you so often write when sulTering from sickness, or
overwhelmed with business. I would like to hear from you
much oftener, and much more fully ; but situated as you are, I
am only too glad to hear as much and as oft(;n as I do.
The letter you speak of sending l)y the Grafton has sojnehow
been mislaid. I am greatly dcliglited with the articles in my
boxes, rat traps, cravats, &.C., papers and books, especially the
Alexander on Isaiah and Princeton Repertory Essays, and with
Kitto's Biblical Cyclopeedia. My own Encyclopaedia of Religious
Knowledge was so much injured among many other books, com-
ing frojn Macao here, that I could scarcely use it. I have Donne-
gan's Greek Lexicon, but it has lost its cover, and the leaves are
all coming apart, and besides it is much stained and spoiled, so I
, would much like a new one, especially as I see a new one, based
on the Greek Lexicon of Passow, advertised in the papers. . . .
414 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
I have looked over the notes on Millenarianism, but I hardly
know what to say about them. I do not know how much you
wish me to write on the subject, and I have never felt that it was
a subject on which I was called either to go about making
proselytes, or giving my views where they were not desired. . . .
I am aware that the presumption is against me, hom the fact
(hat I hold views so different from the majority of good and wise
men. I am sorry that it is so, and I recognize in it a duty im-
plied, that I should hold my own views with modesty, and keep
myself open to conviction.
When I first embraced these views, they were novel and ex-
citing, and perhaps I spoke warmly ; I trust I did not write or speak
dictatorially ; if I did, I am sorry for it now. The novelty is worn
off. I do not feel any excitement on the subject ; but I find my-
self resting calmly and satisfactorily in them, and I trust I feel
benefits resulting from them. There are many things about them
that I do not profess to understand, and many things that I do
not see clearly. But I suppose that many persons under the
Levitical dispensation, who firmly believed in the first advent of
our Lord, might have said the same. Yet their ignorance or
inability to say how certain things in the Levitical law could be
made to harmonize with the administration of a new dispensa-
tion, was no proof that He would not come.
I am distressed at some remarks you have made, implying that
Millenarians think but lightly of the office of the Holy Spirit, or
rather that you think the tendency of their views is to bring the
importance of his work into question. I do not see what ground
there is for this. Millenarians do not call in question the indis-
pensable necessity of the Spirit's infiuences. As far as I can see,
which certainly is not far, a new dispensation, which I think is
clearly implied, may just as much exalt the Spirit's work, as the
Christian dispensation exalted the Saviour's work. . . .
Ningpo, as yet, has no prospect whatever of trade. There has
been less the past year than the year before, and it will in all
probability be several years before any business is done here.
We do not regret this, as we now get our funds and papers with
tolerable ease, though with some delay. Our quietness and seclu-
sion from the intercourse of ships is a great blessing, notwithstand-
ing its temporal disadvantages
I am sorry to hear of the trials in the mission to Africa, but I
trust there will be no talk of abandoning it. How often it is the
case, that the greatest troubles and discouragements precede the
reviving tokens of God's presence ! It may be so in Africa. I
do not mean that you are likely to talk of giving up (he African
mission, but I saw in the Chronicle some notice of the mission-
aries there having told the people, that " the continuance of the
mission depended much on themselves."
Now I will close off this letter and this week by the journal of
a day :
LETTERS. 415
Rose at six. Breakfast and prayers before seven ; at my Bible
and Chalmers on Romans till eight. Then corrected a transla-
tion of the Shorter Catechism with my teacher till half-past nine.
I first write it in as good Chinese as I can, and then copy it off,
and correct it two or three times, till I am prett}^ sure it gives the
idea, and then talk it over with the teacher, and get him to correct
obscurities and errors in style ; to-day finished down to question
thirty-nine, which is by much the hardest part. The Catechism
is so condensed, that it is a ver}' hard thing to translate; and it
is also very hard to find equivalents for some of the terms. My
teacher was especially puzzled with the phrase " their bodies be-
ing still united to Christ," and wanted to alter it. But by a good
deal of explanation he got to see what it meant, and then said
that I had expressed it correctly. I am quite gratified to find that
I can write whole sentences, in which he does not alter a word,
especially in a case where so much care is required as in the
Catecliism. After I get it finished, it will probably be reviewed
by the mission, and if we agree on it, will be published. But it
wnll be necessary to publish a Conmientary on it ; for many of its
clauses and doctrines, even though correctly expressed, will be
unintelligible without explanation. The commentaries, in the
form of short questions and answers, will be much easier than the
text to write.
Then studied a part of the Four Books, noted the new words
in my " Collections for a Dictionary," and translated the part I
had gone over to-day. This kept me till one o'clock. I am
nearly through the Four Books, and hope to finish them in a
month. I think now of making my dictionary to comprise the
Shoo king and the Woo king-, and of doing it pretty thoroughly.
This will require two or three years yet ; but the benefit to my-
self will repay the labor, and if I get the book done as I hope to,
it will be a valuable, or at least, an important contribution to
Chinese philology. I have not as yet told any of the brethren
here, that I am engaged in it, for I want to be sure of carrying it
on, before anything is said about it. I feel very little doubt now,
that I can do it somehow. How well, remains to be seen, and if
I cannot do it well, I do not wish it to see the light.
Mr. Q,uarterman came and dined with me. After dinner we
went to tlie Ningpo tower, and then took a long walk into the
country, I suppose four or five miles. After getting out about
four miles, a very old respectable man in a boat hailed us, and
asked where we were going? How old? Were we married? (fee.
I gave him a couple of tracts, and as he seemed anxious to talk,
told him something about our religion. He was greatly gratified
to meet a foreigner who could talk to him ; and asked us to go to
his house and drink tea. We took him at his word. So as we
were now at his home, he got out of the boat and led us in, and
gave us tea. A crowd of men, women, and children came to see
us, I suppose two or three hundred. After drinking tea and chat-
416 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
ting a little, I told him I wanted to talk to the people. He was
very mucii pleased, and taking me by the hand, led me out to the
court, and commanded silence. Not expecting such an oppor-
tunity and such an audience, I had not prepared myself, but was
enabled to give a discourse some ten or lifteen minutes long, on
the main points of religion, which was listened to quite attentively
by soiiie, and not so well by others. I then gave away all the
tracts I had, for which there was a regular rush, and we came
away and got home about dark, pretty tired, but well pleased. I
have spent the evening correcting my Chinese sermon for to-mor-
row, on the Fifth Commandment, and in writing this letter. It is
now late, and I am tired and am going to bed. With much love
to mother and all good friends, believe me as ever,
Your alfectionate son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
ON THE MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF 1846.
Ningpo, March 20th, 1847.
The Minutes of our venerable General Assembly, after being
long delayed on the way, have at last reached this place, and are
now lying before me. The General Assembly ! How many pre-
cious and endearing associations are connected with that name !
From this heathen land it recalls my thoughts back to the land of
my birth and early youth ; to the land of my first Christian hopes
and preparation for the ministry. It is the land of my parents, of
my brothers and my sisters. It is the land where many warm
friends dwell. It is the land where the departed sleep; a land of
privileges and light ! Its external and physical advantages are
great; for it might be said as was said of Canaan in old times,
" it is a land flowing with iioney and milk," and •' the eye of God
is upon it from the beginning of the year to the end of the year."
It is a land of freedom, and of peace. But its Christian privileges
are greater still. It is a land of Bibles, and Sabbaths, and preach-
ing and revivals. It has its Sabbath scliools and religious institu-
tions. It has its missionary and its Bible societies, to extend to
other lands the blessings enjoyed in its own borders. The influ-
ences of the Spirit, like currents of vital air, pervade the land.
From its hills and its vales go up the voices of prayer and praise,
and the saints of the Lord are resting in its graves. A land highly
favored — its God is Jehovah ! Compare that land with this, and
how painful is the contrast.
It is pleasant to think that tlie Church, the minutes of whose
highest judicatory are now before ine,vii/own loved Churc/i, holds
no mean place among those which, under God, have made that
once wilderness land, to bud and blossom as the rose. "The
General Assembly of the Church !" I love that name. How gen-
eral and extensive, stretching far and wide throughout the land,
ON THE MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 4l7
yet compieliending and assembling all together in one brother-
hood. How goodly is the fellowship of the saints ! The represen-
tatives of the Church throughout the length and breadth of a vast
land are assembled here, and that not fur any selfish purposes, but
for the highest and the noblest known on earth ; they are met to
consult for the glory of Christ and his cause. When shall we
have such a general assembly in this heathen land? When shall
all the earth see eye to eye, and have one General Assembly?
When shall we all go up to the General Assembly, and Church of
the first-born on high ?
It has been a deeply interesting employment to look over the list
of ministers in connection with the General Assembly. I have
gone over the whole list, pencil in hand, and placed a mark against
each name of those I knew. I have looked to see how many of
God's people are under the care of each ; how many additions to
the connnunion of their churches ; how many baptisms. I have
looked farther, to see how active, how liberal, how benevolent, the
Hock of each has been, and how nuich they have contributed to
spread the cause of Christ, at home and abroad. But let me recall
that word " benevolent." With most persons it signifies a free
gift, or a disposition to give, where there is no claim on the giver.
But surely it is no benevolence to give aught to Him of whom we
receive our all, and to whom, if we give aught, we but give him
"of his own." "All things come of Thee, and of thine own have
we given thee." To speak more properly, I have looked to see
how much each church of those I knew, has realized of its respon-
sibilities and its stewardship, and what answer it has given to the
question, "How much owest thou unto my lord ?" In some cases
I have almost feared that an unfaithful steward has been there,
and in place of requiring the full amount, has said, "Take thy
bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty, or fourscore." But
charity requires me to suppose that the minutes of the General
Assembly give only an imperfect account of what each church has
done. The thought, however, occurs to me, man may see and
record what we do, or he may not, but there is One above who
sees and records it all, and he has said, " It is required in stew-
ards that a man be found faithful." See the whole context,
1 Cor. iv. 1-5.
I love to look over the roll of the General Assembly. There are
many well-known names there. The venerable father in Christ,
the strong man, the gentle, loving teacher, friends of my boyhood
were there : classmates and friends of my College days were there :
beloved associates in the Theological Seminary were there. If I
have numbered aright, there are ten with whom I met week after
week and month after month, to hear the instructions of our ven-
erated professors. With you I have sat in the same class-room,
gone to the house of God in company, bowed together in the same
prayer-meeting, and sat down side by side at the same table of
the Lord. Tears fill my eyes, as with an overflowing heart, the
27
418 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
memory of those favored hoars comes back ; and if it niiylu be
so, I could wish for their return. Ye are dwelling in the liouse
of God, whilst I sojourn in Mesech ! Ye are going up with the
great congregation, whilst I sit in the tents of Kedar ! Yet will
I remember thee, oh God, from the land of Jordan, and the Her-
monites, and from the hill Mizar.
Years have passed away since then. Many billows roll be-
tween us now, and many billows have rolled over us since then,
yet many recollections of those days come up before me in long
array. What constant friendship did some of ris vow, when our
hearts were warmed as we communed together by the way ! And
there was our resolve to remember each other in our prayers
on Saturday evening. Do ye remember it yet ? God's blessing
rest on ye all, friends of my heart, associates of my earlier days,
fellow-laborers in the same church, and expectants of the same
crown ! And ye too, venerated elders of the churches ! Some of
you I have known in your own homes. Some of my earliest and
warmest friends were among you. Nor can I ever forget the deep
feeling with which one of your number, now gone to his rest, once
said to me, " Ever since I knew aught of Christ, it has been my
daily prayer that I might know more of him ;" or how another
of your number said on his death-bed, with an emphasis which
only the powers of the world to come could give, " Oh what a
Saviour is Christ ! He is a rock !" May the spirit of those devo-
ted men rest on you all !
I have read with much interest the proceedings of an Assembly,
to which I am bound by so many ties. How great a privilege it
would have been to have been even a doorkeeper there ! It would
be tedious, and unreasonable, to tell you half my thoughts, on
reading over the proceedings. May I be pardoned for recording
some of my thoughts, on reading a part of them?
It is natural for each one to feel most interest in what most
nearly concerns himself and his own immediate pursuits. The
foreign missionary looks with peculiar interest to the proceedings
of the Assembly in relation to Foreign Missions. Shall I, or may
I, say what I thought? Perhaps it may be wrong, or presumptu-
ous, or censorious ; if so, forgive me ; but there was an emotion
not unmixed with disappointment, on the perusal of the resolu-
tions about foreign missions. You know best whether so many
as nine resolutions were necessary, but it did strike me that
they were dull, — too many words, and the sentences too long. A
person almost loses his breath before he reads through some of
them. Would it not have been better, if, with less of tiie charac-
ter of a grave homily, there had been a more pointed application ?
If, instead of merely "grieving" and "inviting" and "recommend-
ing," they had embodied in few words a glowing resohition to do,
and to act 7 But I will not criticise. Rather let me carefully
read them over again, and may God's blessing rest on their au-
thors, and on him who reads.
ON THE MINUTES OP THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 419
It is well. The work of missions is important ; the Church
should unite under their own Board : missionary intelligence
should be diffused ; earnest prayer should be offered ; and the
Jews should have an able and etlicient mission. It is well that
the Church, through her highest judicatory, should give utterance
. to these truths. I suppose they were adopted unanimously, as no
notice is given of any disapprobation or dissent.
But what shall be, or rather what has been, the result of these
resolutions ? They are your public testimony, and not merely re-
corded in your official records, but recorded by one who says,
" When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it ;" and
who will look to see how official resolutions, which bear the nature
of a vow, are performed. You have gone down from that high
position in the General Assembly, to your separate flocks. If you
carry not out your own resolutions, surely no others will. Have
you then in your separate fields carried out the principles, and
performed the duties you have publicly professed? Is interest in
the missionary cause deepening among your own people? Is mis-
sionary intelligence more widely diffused ? Do your flock take
more copies of the Chronicle and Foreign Missionary ? Is more
prayer offered ? Are more efforts made ? Or if not, are we to
understand that you have already attained to the measure of the
standard fixed in your resolutions, and need not to go beyond it ?
And how do your resolutions compare with those of the past or
previous years ? What advance has been made beyond the stand
taken ten, or five years ago ? The resolutions of the General As-
sembly of 1841 were very good. The Assembly of 1842 recom-
mended that one hundred thousand dollars should be raised in
that year ; but that sum has never been raised in any year yet.
The resolutions of 1844 I have not yet seen, but a kind and cordial
notice of missionary operations, found a place in the narrative of
religion of that year.
I fear it must be said, that the resolutions of the General As-
sembly mark no perceptible advance in the state of missionary
feeling in the Church. There has been a slight increase of pecu-
niary contributions, but the Church has not yet come up to the
standard fixed by the Assembly of 1842, as then practicable.
Brethren, where is the fault ? Your resolutions, to be of any
worth, must be acted out ; or in the end the people will become
hardened by them, and instead of good, they will do harm, and
" the rust of them" will be a witness against yourselves. Might I,
with all humility, suggest that instead of a long series of resolu-
tions, a few sentences, brief and pointed, would be much better, if
each one who voted for them were to resolve that, let others do as
they may, he at least would carry them out in his own church.
Were this course adopted, in five successive General Assemblies,
nay, in only two, what prodigious results would be secured !
But there is one sentence in the last resolution, which calls forth
my warmest gratitude. The General Assembly of oiu* Church
420 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
solemnlj'^ assures us that your " daily prayer is that the Saviour
may be present with us, and that the blessing of the Holy Spirit
may rest on our labors." Oh ye fathers and brethren ! this one
sentence is to us worth more than thousands of silver and gold. Let
others do as they may, we are here assured that in the daily pray-
ers of one hundred and thirteen ministers, and seventy-six elders,
Ave are remembered. Who would not rejoice to be Jield in "daily"
remembrance by so many ministers and elders ? Who would not
feel strengthened in his work, by the assurance from the highest
judicatory in the Church, that at least all those who composed
that body, every day invoke " the presence of the Saviour, and the
blessing of the Spirit" on his labors? In the name of every mis-
sionary of our Church, I thank you for that assurance ; for surely
God will hear such prayers. May they be graciously answered by
Him. in blessings on our heads, and may they return with tenfold
blessings on your own ! You are daily praying, and doubtless
daily looking for an answer to those prayers. God is the hearer
and the answerer of prayer, and our hearts are revived by the
thought. How glorious, how blessed to be a member of a Church,
so large as ours, where such a bond of union exists, and where
those who occupy the most conspicuous stations, assure those far-
thest off, and least known, of an interest in their daily prayers. I
cannot allow myself to harbor for one moment the thought, that
this assurance is a mere unmeaning form of words, passed in the
routine of business, and forgotten amidst succeeding occupations
or more interesting pursuits. It cannot so be.
W. M. LOWRIE.
Ningpo, April 10th, 1847.
My Dear Father —
Your letter of July 17-20, did not come till some ten days or
more after the things it mentioned had been received. I believe
everything has come safe. Some of the other brethren were not
so much favored, as some three or four boxes fell into the hands
of pirates between Canton and Macao. The pirates are getting
exceedingly bold all along the coast. I was told to-day that ten
out of the eighteen timber firms in Ningpo had shut up their shops
this year, as the pirates on the coast stopped their ships when
coming from Fuhkeen province, and required such heavy ransom,
that it became a losing business. 1 hardly know how I shall get
to Shanghai this summer, as it is hardly safe to venture out to
sea, in our small passage boats, when such customers are abroad.
At present I propose applying for leave to go by way of Hangchou,
a place I want to see on many accounts.
The convention for the revision of the Translation of the New
Testament, is to meet on the 1st of June. I presume you will see
the accounts of it as soon as any other person. The most inter-
esting question likely to be discussed, is the one in reference to a
LETTERS.
421
proper term for - God."' Increasing dissatisfaction is felt by many
with the term Shang-te. which Mr. Medhurst patronizes, and the
discussion of that sulDJect is Ukely to be an earnest one. I should
like much if you could find time to make yourself farniUar with it.
You will find in the Chinese Repository of 1846 and 1847, several
articles oa both sides. The one in November and December, 1846,
and January, 1847, shows my views. I think, if the principles
laid down in the article in the November number are granted,
that the question is settled in favor of " Shin,"' and I should be
glad to get the opinion of some Biblical scholars on the subject.
You will see Mr. Medhurst's views in the January number of this
year. I think every one of his positions is capable of a clear and
distinct answer. I hope some one will reply to it. I shall probably
write an answer myself, but do not expect to publish it, having
already said as much as becomes so young a student of the lan-
guage. As an evidence of the evil done by using the term
Shang-te for the name of God, is the following : — Not long ago a
very respectable man came to my house one Sabbath. I got into
conversation with him, and asked him if he knew anything of
Jesus ? He replied, he had heard he was the son of " Yuh hwang
ta te,"" the "Jewelled Great Emperor." This is the chief god in
the Chinese mythology. His birth-day is on the first month, third
dav ; his image is in one of our largest temples ; and he is known
indifferently by the name above given, or by that of Shang-te. I
never use the term now, having uniformly found that the people
supposed I meant their own Shang-te.
Sabbath evening. April 11. This has been a very pleasant day
clear, warm, and comfortable. Sermon at our church by Mr.
Culberison. on " Joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth."
After sermon, the eldest boy in the school, of whom you have
heard several times, and whose full name is Yuen Ko Keun, made
profession of his faith, and was received into the church, in pres-
ence of all his school-mates, and several other Chinese, by baptism.
After a short interval, the Lord's Supper was administered. All
the services of Baptism and the Lord's Supper were in the Chinese
language, and were conducted by the pastor, Mr. Culbertson.
This is, I believe, the first case in which any one whose first im-
pressions are due, under God, to members of our Mission, has been
admitted to the church. Others have, it is true, received great
benefit from our mission ; but. humanly speaking, they would
have been savingly converted if we had not been in the field. I
suppose in this case, as in the case of Apoo, baptized two years
ago, that the principal influence has been exerted by Mrs. Way,
and it is worthy of notice how God has been pleased to use the
youngest, feeblest, (as far as bodily health is concerned.) and the
most unassuming member of our mission, to effect the purposes of
his mercy. To his name be the glory. As an oflTset to the above
pleasing account, take the following : — All the time we were en-
gaged in our services, we were disturbed by some Chinese carpen-
422 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
ters close by, building a pleasure-boat for a European resident. I
went out and requested them to cease, which they promised to do,
but for some reason did not. Coming home from church, I found
in one place a number of Buddhist priests reading and chanting
prayers over a person lately deceased ; and a few steps further on,
a table full of victuals spread before a new tomb, and a widow
woman wailing bitterly. They formed sad contrasts to the exer-
cises in which we had been engaged.
After a light dinner, I preached on the Eighth Commandment,
but the audience was neither large nor attentive. One man, how-
ever, evidently heard everything, and indeed so did another, who
was sitting by the door outside when I began, but became so
much interested, that he came close up, and sat down as near me
as he could. But most paid little attention, and went away as
they came
Monday. Q,uite warm to-day. I hope this week to get through
my collection of significations of the words used in the Four Books-
There are about twenty-three hundred different characters. Most
of them occur in only one or two senses ; but several of them oc-
cur in such a variety of meanings, that it will take no little skill
to get them properly exhibited. After getting through the Four
Books, I think of laying the subject by for three or four months,
as I am pretty tired of it. In the fall, if life and health be spared,
I wish to resume it, and treat the Five Classics in the same man-
ner, which will be a large job, and I suppose will occupy two
years at least
As ever, your affectionate son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Ning-po, May 9th, 1847.
My Dear Mother —
.... The city has been all in a hubbub for the last four days
with the [Too shin hwuy, or] Procession in honor of all the Gods.
Great preparations have been made for it for weeks past, as it is
the greatest festival of the year, and crowds of people have flocked
in from all parts of the country to witness it. Perhaps there have
been five hundred thousand persons, residents and strangers, con-
gregated in and about the city, and it has been a curious sight to
witness the crowds that collected where anything was to be seen.
Numerous companies of strolling play-actors have taken advantage
of the occasion, to display their talents and pick up cash. They
commonly have their theatres in the temples, nearly all of which
have a stage built for the purpose, but it is not uncommon for the
actors to erect a temporary stage in the street, occupying nearly
the whole breadth of the narrow passage, and with the crowd of
spectators, rendering it utterly impossible to go through the street.
In every street where the procession was expected to pass, such
numbers of people collected as made it a matter of no little diffi-
PROCESSION IN HONOR OP THE GODS. 423
culty to force one's way through. Parents were obliged to carry
their children on their shoulders, and one would be amused in
watching from an upper window the tides of men as they swept
backward and forward. Wherever any eiTiinence offered a favor-
able location, it was so thickly covered with people, that it seemed
like some great pyramid of shaven heads and black eyes. Yet
with all this crowd there were few cases of disorder or fighting. I
saw but one example of the latter, in which there were only two
persons engaged, one of whom broke his pipe-stem over the head
of the otiier and drew blood, giving him a hearty pull by the tail
at the same time ; but the bystanders, instead of taking sides, and
having a " regular row," as would have been the case in some
Christian countries, seemed only anxious to quiet the disturbance
as soon as possible. Everybody carries a pipe with a wooden
stem from two to four feet long, and it was a curious sight to see
the forest of pipe-stems which the living mass held up on every
side ; but the stems were too weak to have done much harm as
cudgels, and the people do not carry sticks or weapons. There
was no drunkenness seen, and New York on the Fourth of July
night would compare badly with Ningpo on the Festival of all the
gods.
It would be in vain to attempt to describe the procession, or to
enumerate its component parts, for the number of articles Avas too
great, and our language contains no terms to describe many of
them. It will suffice to mention the most conspicuous ; and if
you will form an idea of them arranged in any order to suit
yourself, you will have nearly as definite an impression of the
general features of the procession as those who have witnessed
the wdiole.
Imagine then, in the first place, a long narrow street not more
than twelve feet wide, and people standing three and four deep
on each side through its whole length, leaving room for only two
or three persons to walk abreast in the middle. When more
room was required to let any part of the procession pass, it was
obtained by a process familiarly known to school-boys by the
name of " scrouging." But the Chinese pack well, as any one
would think who might see a passage boat going from one place
to another, and few complaints were heard when fifty men were
crowded into a space where twenty could not stand with any com-
fort. ^'Vlong this narrow passage way, came low, lean, scraggy
horses, hail^ concealed by stuffed saddles, which were covered with
rich embroidered silk and with festoons of silk and tinsel sticking
about over the neck and hind flank in every imaginable shape.
The horses were generally led by a well-dressed little boy, who
held the sdken bridle, while the rough rope halter, but half con-
cealed, was held by a man who walked at the side to support the
rider. The riders were all boys, frequently so small as to be quite
unable to put their feet in the short *tirrups ; they were gor-
geously dressed in silk robes, with highly ornamented caps, and a
424 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
banner of some kind in a socket fastened on tlieir backs. There
was never more than one horse at a time, though there were some
fifteen or twenty in all. Then came men and boys, with bhie or
white or yellow or green caps, and parti-colored dresses, beating
gongs, cymbals and drams, and blowing trumpets and clarionets
which made one's ears tingle; a few had flutes, whose melody
was pleasant enough. These nmsicians were so thickly scattered
through the procession that the charms of music were never want-
ing, though sometimes they could have been spared well enough.
A few men with grotesque masks and odd movements stalked
along or danced about, and here and there a man in dirty red
garments, doing penance (self-imposed) for his sins, gave variety
to the scene.
The lanterns were among the most conspicuous parts of the
procession, for no show in China, either by day or night, is per-
fect without its lanterns. There were some called '' the nine col-
lected lanterns," and " the five connected lanterns," which con-
sisted of nine square or five round glass lanterns in a perpen-
dicular frame, ornamented with silken fringe and tassels, beads,
shells, streamers and grotesque figures on the glass, often giving
ludicrous caricatures of foreign soldiers and sailors. They were
also ornamented with pictures of clocks, and crowned with im-
ages of birds and beasts. Large single lanterns, each borne by
one man, were also carried about ; but few of these were so hand-
some as those exhibited last year. Men bearing long staves or
wands, ornamented with tinsel or feather and flower work, filled up
vacant spaces. Some bore flags and streamers, and everywhere
men with rattans about a yard long, with pieces of colored cloth
or silk attached, like the feather of an arrow, were waving them
in the faces of the people to keep the pathway clear : the number
of these was so great in all parts of the procession, that they
formed one of its most conspicuous objects.
Some eight or ten dragons, varying from thirty to fiftv yards in
length, and each borne by from fifteen to fifty men, attracted due
attention. The heads of these monsters were made of a light
bamboo framework, lined with green, red, and yellow silks, great
staring eyes, large teeth, and diversified figures stuck about them,
while the bodies were made of parti-colored silks, red flannel, blue
cotton, or whatever else the maker chose. One which was par-
ticularly rich, was completely covered with scales made of pieces
of looking-glass. Clumsy coaches and ships, borne by four or six
men, ajid carrying either a girl or a boy, or a drum which was
constantly beaten, or else a miniature table, witli the dishes ar-
ranged and chairs around it, or a vessel of smoking incense, occu-
pied their due station in the show. The richest things were a
number of large silken canopies, very richly embroidered, with
beautiful fringes of silk thread; each of the canopies, of which
there were five or six, djfTered from the others in color, embroid-
ery and fringes. The most amusing objects, perhaps, were a
PROCESSION IN HONOR OF THE GODS. 425
couple of long-billed birds, with wliite bodies, and gieeu legs, which
stood some ten or twelve feet hio-h. These were men walking on
stilts, and so disguised as to present a good, thougli most grotesque
resemblance to birds. They walked oji their stills with nmch ap-
parent ease, clapped their wings, and moved their heads about,
" very much like nature, only a little more so." Behind them fol-
lowed a man on stilts, with a large trident, (looking, however,
very much like a three-pronged pitchfork,) which he twirled about
with great assiduity, but he was in an unfortunate position, for
his immediate predecessors, the birds, quite eclipsed him.
Perhaps the most interesting parts of the exhibition were the
stages, on which what might be called ''Hying girls'' were exhib-
ited. Of these stages were eigiit or ten, having perhaps twenty
girls, all supported in different modes. On one of the stages was
a vessel containing a lotus plant growing out of the water, and on
its broad leaves, some six feet from the stage, sat a couple of girls
apparently about sixteen years old. On another, two girls were
sitting on the outermost twigs of a green bush. On another sat
a young woman very much at her ease, holding a light bamboo
wand in one liand, and having another carelessly resting over her
shoulder ; and on the outer ends of these two wands stood two
little girls, fanning themselves. On another stage, stood a little
girl with a gilt double ring ; on the upper ring stood another girl
on one foot. On another stage sat a young woman with a guitar
on one knee, and having another slung across her back ; and on
the end of each of these guitars stood a little girl. On another
stage stood a young girl holding in her hand a crooked serpent,
some four feet long, on the tail of which stood another girl. On
another stage stood a young woman holding up a rod, the end of
which was ten or fifteen feet from the ground, and on the upper end
of this rod stood another little girl. These little creatures were
all gorgeously dressed, and some were very pretty ; they seemed
much at their ease, and were delighted at the notice they attract-
ed. They had nothing to support them, except the single hand
or the single foot by which they stood or held to the slight poles
on which they were perched, though occasionally the men who
walked alongside held up a larger pole for them to steady them-
selves, and rest for a little while. Thus thej^ were carried about
for several hours, passing through narrow crowded streets in the
hot sun, and often passing under arches so low that it was only
l)y stooping that thev could get through them. They nmst have
been sujiported \)y iron framework, passing up through the poles
or twigs or rings on which they stood, and so arranged as to sus-
tain their bodies, for the most expert rope-dancer could not long
have stood as they did without aid, but in most cases the support-
ing irons were so adroitly concealed, that they seemed borne along
through the air.
After speaking of the Hying girls, it is scarcely worth while to
describe the little boys standing on men's shoulders, or the fire
426 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
crackers that were occasionally fired off, as the procession passed
along. The whole affair occupied an hour and a half in pass-
ing one point, and must have been some two miles long, but
it is not probable that the whole of it passed through any one
street. The main body went through the city gates, principal
streets, and in front of the offices of government, while detach-
ments passed through some of the minor streets, where the inhab-
itants expressed a desire to have them do so. It is considered
lucky to have it pass through the street where one lives, and the
inhabitants often give presents to the conductors to have detach-
ments sent past their houses. There were no idols carried this
year, though last year a large number were exhibited, and formed
an important part of the procession
Yours affectionately,
W. M. LOWRIE.
JOURNAL AT NINGPO.
January 3d, 1847. Preached on the faith of Abraham, to a
strange kind of an audience ; most of them very respectable, but
disposed to talk and make remarks ; some were very attentive ;
but to some the story seemed amusing and almost ridiculous,
and the idea of so old a ]nan having a son only afforded
matter for a laugh. How hard it is to preach to such a people —
so indifferent, so insensible ! I came from ray address to my
knees ; for I am made to feel that the treasure is conmiitted to
earthen vessels.
Have some encouragement with my servants, particularly Az-
hih, whom I am training carefully in religious instruction. They
take a good deal of interest in it, and I cannot but hope are be-
ginning to feel a little. Oh, for God's Spirit to be given to them,
January lOlh. Preached on the character of God ; audience
much as usual. It is no small trial of the spirit to one accus-
tomed to address attentive audiences, to have such as I com-
monly find ; people coming in and going out, some making re-
marks, some laughing, some ruder, and only few attending, and
yet some of even these few taking up the strangest notions from
the plainest truth. To human eyes all such preaching must seem
very foolishness. Well, be it so. '-The foolishness of God is
wiser than men," and by " the foolishness of preaching he will
save them that believe."
The external evidences of Christianity are of little use here.
The people have as many and as famous miracles as we to boast
of; and their minds are not so trained as to perceive and appre-
ciate the evidence, which proves the truth of ours and the falsity
of theirs. Hence they make no scruple of believing whatever we
tell of deeds of wonder by Christ and his apostles. They can
produce parallels in their own history. I spoke of the miraculous
JOURNAL AT NINGPO. 427
conception of Christ. " Oh, yes," said one, " that is true, it is just
like a similar event in our history; let nie see, where was it?"
And after some thought, and assisted by one or two others pre-
sent, he produced the circumstance. How should he believe my
story, or feel more interest in it than I in his? Oh, Spirit of
Life, come down !
January 17th. A rainy day, and no one came to service.
January 18th. Crossing the ferry, I found a very simple-hearted
peddler of silk thread and trimmings, on the boat. He said he
sold about a thousand cash worth of articles in a day, and made
a profit of near two hundred, or about sixteen cents. He was
very curious to know all about my affairs. Had I a father and
mother? Did they consent to my coming away ? Did not they
cry very much when I came away? When was I going back ?
My answers gave him great satisfaction, but still more to a plain-
looking but very motherly woman also in the boat, who seemed at
a loss wliich to admire most, a foreigner speaking her own lan-
guage, or the evidence he gave of possessing the feelings of a
man. Nothing pleases the people better than ovn* speaking their
language. Going over there were two or three men in the boat,
one of whom knew me, and asked some questions which I an-
swered ; quite a respectable man by my side actually laughed
aloud from pleasure at hearing me speak Chinese, and asked me
several questions, apparently from no other motive than to hear a
foreigner answer them in Chinese. I gave him some tracts, which
he read very fluently.
Jan. 24th. A wet, rainy day, and apprehended having no con-
gregation again ; however, on going down, found a very respect-
ably dressed middle-aged man named Chrih, who lives somewhere
in the city ; he was very polite and respectful, told me he had
long " desired to see me, looked up to me for instruction," &c.,
according to the usual routine of Chinese ceremonial speech.
We had some talk, and as there were three or four persons
present, I delivered my discourse to a very attentive, though small
audience. The man took a copy of Luke with comments, and
promising to come again, departed. I was very glad of the op-
portunit}^ of talking which was afforded, for I sometimes feel
greatly cast down, especially when I find little opportunity of
speaking for Christ.
Knowledge that there is such a thing as Christianity is increas-
ing and spreading in this part of the country, as I frequently meet
jK'rsons wlio have heard at least the name of Jesus.
Feb. 21st. For the last three or four Sabbaths, nothing special
has occurred ; audiences varying from ten to fifty ; connnonly sit
and talk more after giving my sermon than I used to do, which
gives an opportunity of more pointed and personal application,
but also opens the door for any and every kind of question, and is
very sure, in half an hour, to get off to questions about food and
clothing, &c. The natural man " understandeth not the things
428 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
of the Spirit." One man to-day seemed a vei y merry sort of a
fellow, but withal, as respectful as a man could be whose onlv
object was to make sport ; asked a number of questions, and
started a hearty laugh after each of them, in v.hich he was joined
by several others, who seemed to urge him on. At last. I asked
him why he asked such questions ? And whether his only object
was not to make sport of what I considered a very serious matter ?
He was quite abashed : several persons around told him to be
quiet; and he got up and went out. Had quite a full house as I
talked the second time ; but, alas ! it is preaching to dry bones.
O, Spirit ! Breath of the Almight}- ! breathe on these dry bones !
Feb. 26th. Took a long walk into the country, to some places
where I have not before teen ; was exceedingly stared at in one
place, where the whole village turned out to see me, and the
women were the most forward and curious of all. Q.uite abashed
a little girl by asking her what her name was, as it seems she had
none. It is not common to give names to girls. But it is melan-
choly to see the dissipation of morals here Oh when shall
purity prevail, where there is so much vice?
Went afterwards and had a pleasant little talk with some men
in a little resting-house, and then came home, well tired. Some
little yellow flowers are in blossom novr. I saw dandelions in full
bloom a month or more ago, though tho>e had been a hard frost
before, and pleuty of it since then; but the cold weather must be
nearly over novr.
Marcli 14th. Preached in the morning, in English, on Gal. iv.
7 ; in the afternoon in Chinese, to some thirty or forty persons, on
the Fourth Commandment ; was favored with as much fluency
as I have ever had, and fully as good if not better attention. In-
deed, the congregation to-day would not have done discredit to
any similar congregation in a Christian land. One man came in
talking, and I supposed meant to keep on talking, but he behaved
very quietly, only putting in a word now and then. After I had
said that no work was to be done on the Sabbath, he asked,
" Then what shall we do — go to sleep ?"' This brought on the
next part of n)y subject — Duties to be done on the Sabbath. He
stayed after service. I talked some ; but there were many who
wanted to talk about the news and trifling matters, and I found
so little opportunity of saying anything profitable, that I soon left
them. The man above referred to. seemed a man of some learn-
ing. He insisted on it, that since I was so generous, as to come
out here, and preach to the people, and advise them to do good,
that I would surely become a god at last ! But how hard it is to
get a Christian idea into their heads, to say nothing of impress-
ing it on their hearts. After repeating over and over again, the
statements about God as eternal, true, and holv, they are sure to
confound all you say with their own gods. This is not because
they do not understand what I say, for I find that I am pretty
well understood; but because, first, they cannot conceive how it is
JOURNAL AT NIXGPO. 429
that their own gods are false gods : and, second, they have no
idea of the importance of the subject, to induce thera to give a
serious thought to what they hear, and hence, when they hear of
the •• true God," they take it as a matter of course that their own
gods are intended.
We are greatly at a loss for a word corresponding to our word
xcorship. The Chinese ^£ ^£ pai pai. which comes nearest to
it, is very far from expressing it : so that frequently, when I
have been praying in public, some one says, why you did not
'• pai pai."' •■ worship." By the use of the word, they mean prin-
cipally the motions of the hand and the body in bows and prostra-
tions before the idol.
March 21st. Opened my doors at three, p. m., and went down as
usual, but there were few passers-by. I sat alone for nearly half
an hour, having only one little boy carrying a baby in his arms,
to come near me. After a while, two or three well-dressed men
came in and one sal down, but the other two went away. I asked
him his name and residence, but he did not seem disposed for a
conversation. 1 then opened a copy of Luke, and began to read
it. He asked what it was, and we had something to talk about
it. Others came in : he praised my fluency of utterance and cor-
rectness of speech : and in answer to some questions. I had a good
opportunity of giving some outlines of creation and redemption.
But the subject had no charms for the natural heart ; and as soon
as I was done, one of the men asked, '• Is your sovereign a man
or a woman?" Q,uite a crowd had now collected, and I gave
them ray sermon as well as I could, which was not very well.
Some heard it all ; some got enough before it was half done. One
quite respectable looking lady came in and sal down, and she at
least heard everything that was said. Oh for a blessing on her !
It is hard preaching, for the audience changes so much, that I
must go over the same simple truths every day, treating all the
time of first principles ; and this displeases the few who coine more
than once, for having already heard all this, they want something
else.
March 24th. Started for a walk, got out of the south gate and
thought of going up into the country, when I recollected that there
were little wax representations of fruit, (fcc, to be had in the city,
which I wanted to get. So I turned off and went through the
lowest gate towards the Koolowtseen. Passing by one of the pa-
rade grounds. I saw several persons with bows and arrows ; and
knowing that there were people practising archery there, 1 went
in to see what was going on. There were several groups, shoot-
ing at targets ; some of the archers pi-^rced the centre, while others
shot very wide of the mark. As soon as I came in, several persons
gathered around me, and presently there was quite a crowd, mostly
well-dressed, and respectable men. The first one that spoke to me
asked my opinion of some women, who were looking out of a door
439 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
not far off. At home I should not have thought much of such a
question, but here it could have only one meaning, and he saw in
a moment that I was displeased, and apologized for having spoken
so. Great merriment was caused by my speaking in their own
language, and several questions were put, apparently only for the
pleasure of hearing a foreigner speak in Chinese. I was not in
much humor for talking ; so I took out what few tracts I had with
me. They were gone in a moment. I thought of going too, but
a very pleasant looking young man said, '' Oh do not go, stay and
talk." " What shall I talk about?" said I; and then seeing one
of them looking over a copy of the Ten Commandments I had just
given him, I took it, and gave them a little talk on them, and on
the redemption of Christ. They were very curious to know where
I lived. So I told them where, and that I should be happy to see
them at my house, at my Chinese service on the Sabbath. Sev-
eral said they would come. We parted on the best terms.
I then went to the Koolowtseen street, and found a great crowd ;
now is the time of the annual examination for Sewtsai. Stalls of
all kinds of coarse toys were set up on both sides of the street, and
the venders seemed to be making money. I was much interested
with the dexterity of the men who made wax figures. They had
half a dozen kinds of different colored wax balls, and a very small
furnace; and three men were busily employed in making figures
of fish, four-footed beasts, &c. They also made flowers, fruits,
&c. The fruits were especially natural. Everything was done
by hand or by little sticks, and pieces of iron ; and the resem-
blances thus formed were surprisingly accurate. The articles
made were also very cheap, and for eleven cents I got seventeen
or eighteen of them.
March 27th. There is a great crowd of strangers in the city at
present, in consequence of the examinations. After dinner Ho
Keun, the oldest boy in the school, whom we hope to receive into
the churoli at our next communion, spent some time with me.
He thought ihere were a great many comparisons, or figurative
expressions, in the book of Revelation. I told him he would do
better not to attend to that so soon. He wanted to know how the
Lazarus wiiom Jesus loved could have been so poor as to be laid
at a rich man's gate. He had a number of other questions which
I answered. After speaking a while in Chinese, we conversed in
English. He speaks well for the time he has spent at it. It
seemed strange to hear a Chinese speak in my ow^n language.
Our hope is that he will be a blessing to his own people.
Sabbath, 28lh. Rose at half-past six o'clock. Morning occupa-
tions as usual. Breakfast at half-past seven. Read in the Bible
till nine. Fell into a long train of thought about getting a Sab-
bath school in St. Louis to undertake iny support, and many
thoughts on this subject crowded into my mind. Looked over my
Chinese sermon for the afternoon, and selected some short tracts
for distribution. English service as usual, and a good sermon by
JOURNAL AT NINGPO.
431
Mr. Culberfson. At three opened the doors of my Chinese room,
found almost the only constant hearer I have, in the room. A
few others came in, and I commenced my discourtJC, which was
on the Sixth Commandment. I believe I never got on better, or
had a more quiet and attentive audience. After speaking about
twenty minutes, we all rose, and I offered a short prayer, and dis-
missed them. Gave away all the tracts; and two young men
from Hangchow, the capital of the province, were highly gratified
at receiving some of them, and at my speaking in their own lan-
guage, and gave me many thanks.
I am teaching the Shorter Catechism to my servants, but find
It hard work : first, the Chinese language has no suitable terms
for many things, and second, my command of the language is not
yet sufficient for the circumlocution in such a case. There are
more terms in the written language than in the spoken, but they
are of no more use to the common people than the Latin and
Greek terms in theological and philosophical books are to the un-
learned at home. I know of no term in the language to express
precisely " chief end." For '• decree," there is a good word, ming,
in the written language, but not in the spoken. For "covenant,"
yo is a good word, but it is understood only by scholars, nor is
there any good word for it in the colloquial. "Providence," "fall,"
" redemption," " original sin," " effectual calling," "justification,"
" adoption," " sanctification," " privilege/' " holy," are all very hard
words to be put into intelligible Chinese. Most of them may be
expressed, after a sort, in the written language, which is very co-
pious, but when it comes to the spoken language one is at a loss,
and a great deal of circumlocution is unavoidable. One of the
great difficulties in our work lies in this very want of proper terms,
and 1 see not how it is to be remedied excepting in long and pa-
tient use of the most suitable terms we can find ; thus, at length,
" converting" them from their heathenish uses and associations to
Christian purposes.
How true are those words, " Sin has reigned unto death !" Its
power is shown even in forms of speech. The application of terms
to evil, is an evidence of sin reigning. This language is an instru-
ment in Satan's hand to blind men to their ruin. But as sin hath
reigned, so shall grace reign, even in the terms of this language,
unto everlasting life. Wherever sin hath set up its throne and
swayed its sceptre, there shall grace come in and set up a higher
throne, and sway a mightier sceptre. Would that I might do
something for the conversion of this language, and through it of
this people unto God !
Monday, 29th. Busy in the fore part of the day with my teacher,
and at the Four Books. At three, visited Mr. Culbertson. Coming
back, was barked at unmercifully by several dogs. As soon as I
am three steps beyond them, they follow for a square or two, bark-
ing and yelping without ceasing. It does make one feel as a
432 MEMOIR OP WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Stranger to be barked at in this way, for they do not move their
tongue to a Chinaman.
March 30th. All the missionaries in Ningpo met to discuss the
question of the marriage of Christian converts with persons re-
maining in heathenism. The question came up in consequence of
a letter from some missionaries in Shanghai, who have a case of
the kind on hand, and wanted to know our views. After a com-
parison of views for four hours, we came to the conclusion that
such marriages were inexpedient and to be discouraged ; but did
not feel prepared to make a term of communion in all cases out
of the subject.
March 31st. All day at my Chinese studies, and at the Four
Books. At five, p. M., took a walk for relaxation. Gathered some
spring flowers for my flower-pot ; a few wild lemon flowers, some
clover, some yellow primrose, some parsley, and one or two others.
In one place came across a dead dog, and two other dogs lying by
him. In a few steps beyond, saw a flowering almond in full and
luxurious bloom. So it is in this strange, melancholy world of
ours. When most pleasantly engaged, you are wounded and
grieved by some revolting spectacle, and again in a moment de-
lighted with some scene almost too fair and beautiful for aught but
heaven.
April 1st. In the evening looked over my Chinese sermon. At
first it took me three evenings to prepare a discourse, but now I
commonly get through very easily in one evening. 1 find I am
generally understood, but mistakes are often made by beginners.
I often wonder how the Chinese can keep such grave faces, when
they hear such queer combinations as we foreigners sometimes
make out of their language. The only time they ever laughed at
a mistake I made, was when I spoke of "Peter's mother's wife,"
instead of " Peter's wife's mothei." Even then some of the elder
hearers seemed scandalized, that the 3^oung ones were amused at
a mistake of "the guest."
April 3d. Looked a little into a work in Chinese, on astronomy,
geography, and watch-making, by some of the Roman Catholic
missionaries of former days. It gives the Ptolemaic system of as-
tronomy, that the sun and stars move round the earth. In the
numerous books they published in China, they always explained
astronomy in the old style, and published books with plates, repre-
senting the sun and stars revolving round the earth. I have seen
some of these books.
Went up to a Leang-ting, where I preaclied my first Chinese
seimon last j^ear. These are covered resting-places with stone
seats, where you may sit down and rest awhile. They are met
v.'ith every two or three miles, and might remind one of the arbor
on the hill Difficulty, made for the refreshment of the pilgrims, if
they were not, in nine cases out of ten, built alongside of an idol
temple. In this populous country you cannot sit down five min-
utes in one of these places, without having several people gather
JOURNAL AT NINGPO. 433
round you. To-day there were twelve or fifteen persons, and I
talked to them on the folly of idolatry, the true God, the sinful-
ness of man, and Christ the only Saviour. After talking ten or
fifteen minutes, I gave away what tracts I had with me, and left
them with a hearty good-by on both sides.
April 4th. Preached to-day, in course, on the Seventh Command-
ment to a pretty large audience.
April 17th. The people are novr preparing their nursery beds for
rice ; in a few the rice is already sown, but in most the water is
merely let in, and the beds arc little else than so many dishes of
wet mud, six inches deep.
April 19th. An excessively hot day; thermometer at 97° for
some hours. Ripe cherries to-day, but not very good.
April 21st. Green peas to-day. There are shad in the market,
but at present very dear, about half a dollar a pound.
April 24th. A poor crazy man has been lingering about, near my
house, most of the day. He looks from his dress and counte-
nance, as if he suffered but little for want of the comforts of life.
When I first saw him he was kneeling on the grass by the side
of my house, and chanting a book of Buddhist prayers, making
occasional prostrations ; seeing me watching him he got up and
went farther olf, and then walked backwards and forwards, chant-
ing his book, and making bows, (iuite a crowd looked at him,
which seemed not to please him, for he hastily put his book imder
his arm and went otY. Just now, half-past eight, p. m., I hear
him again singing out lustily, O me to fuh ! but some of his
friends seem to be persuading him to go home. Is this a case of
religious madness ?
April 25th. Preached to some twenty or thirty persons on the
Tenth Commandment, and was favored with a good deal of fluency
in speech. Several were very attentive; and after sitting down, I
got into a conversation which lasted more than an hour, in refer-
ence to idolatry, creation, redemption, the creed, &,c. On the
whole, it was a very satisfactory meeting, yet alas ! without tiie
Spirit of God, of what avail is it all? The people laugh at their
idols, but go and worship them still.
After dismissing the audience, I found a couple of natives
of the place, a Mr. Tai, and a Mr. Leu, waiting to speak with
me. I had seen them both before, and the first of them several
times. He was first led to think about Cliristianit}'^, by a Chinese
who came up here with Dr. Macgowan, and who first brought
him to my notice. Last week he sent me a letter requesting bap-
tism, and came to-day to speak about it. He said that himself
and his friend, Mr. Leu, and another, Mr. Chow, whom I have
also seen, are all pretty much decided for Christianity; and
though, as he says, he is much laughed at and reviled by hfe.
friends, yet he professes a determination to persevere even until
death. I had a tolerably satisfactory conversation with them, and
we prayed together.
28
434 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Worship of ancestors is one of the great features of the Chinese
rehgion ; every family has a picture of the father and mother, to
which incense is offered, and rehgious worship performed. Mr.
Tai asked wliat he should do? He said lie had taken down the
pictures and laid them away, and has fully determined not to
worship them any more ; " and if I should deceive you by saying
I do not worship them, when I do worship them, yet I could not
deceive God." He has, however, been told he should burn the
pictures. Now this seems hard, for being portraits of his parents,
he wishes to keep them just as we would. Does this case fall
under the rule of destroying every vestige of idolatry, no matter
what it be ?
April 18th. Finished the first draught of the Shorter Catechism
in Chinese, and May 11th, finished revision of it with teacher.
May 10th. Suffering greatly from drought; very little rain has
fallen during the winter, though as there was no cultivation of
any consequence and no irrigation, the canals have kept full.
But of late, since the planting of rice commenced, the water in the
canals has been in great measure used up, and some of them arc
quite dry. The Kin too, or prohibition of slaughtering pork, has
been enforced of late, to propitiate the gods ; but as yet very slight
showers mock our hopes, and some apprehension is felt for the
result on the crops.
In some fields, the rice is already transplanted ; but in most of
them, the cabbage is only removed and the water being let in on
them.
May 16th. Preached to-day on Heaven ; but it was talking of
things in which the people seemed to feel that they had little con-
cern. Had more satisfaction in a short extempore address I made
afterwards, on the main object of Christianity. Two or three
inquirers were present, who have been attending at Dr. Macgow-
an's, but of late have shown a disposition, entirely of their own, to
come to me. I asked two of them to make some remarks, as I
knew they had been in the habit of talking on the subject of
Christianity. They both did so; what they said was good
enough, but it did not seem very direct or impressive.
I find the Commentary on Luke takes very well ; one of them
inquired with much interest, if any more or other books would be
published, remarking that it was very hard to understand our
Scriptures without them, which is true. The drought still
continues.
May 22d. Very heavy rains. The prohibition of slaughtering
pork removed ; the rains, however, lasted only one day.
May 24th. Started with Mr. Cole in a boat for Chapoo, I.
meaning to go from thence to Shanghai, and he to Pooto. Left
Ningpo at ten o'clock, p. m., and expected to leave Chinhai at
daylight next morning.
May 25th. Found the boatmen determined not to go till next
day ; many excuses ; first, that they did not know the route to
JOURNAL EN ROUTE TO SHANGHAI. 435
Chapoo, and must get another boatman to go along ; then, that
they had some repairing to do, &c. Entreaties, threats, and
promises were useless, and we found ourselves under the necessity
of submitting. I suspect that they wish to smuggle some opium
from here to Chapoo, under cover of foreign protection, and having
made an agreement to do so, they are determined on so doing, as
they would thereby make money. There being no help, we went
ashore and rambled about Cbinhai, and up to Cho paou sau, a
Buddhist temple on top of the hill which overlooks the city, and
from which there is a splendid view by sea and by land ; nothing
particular to see in the temple. It is ascended by three hundred
and twenty-three steps, many of them cut out of the rock. One of
the monks was quite unable to tell the names of the attendant
deities in the hall of Kwan Yin !
The city is apparently not more than a mile square, and not at all
thickly settled ; one-third of the interior is occupied with rice-fields.
The people, children, and dogs were very civil.
May 26th. Wednesday. Started about two o'clock, a. m., and
got out of the harbor of Chinhai, but found it so calm that we could
not make head against the tide, and came to anchor. Favorable
tide at six o'clock, a. m., and with light wind went on well till about
noon ; got nearly half way to Chapoo ; tide turning and wind light,
had to anchor. Wind becoming stronger and tide slackening, up
anchor at five, and went on : but the wind soon came out dead
ahead, and looked squally. About six, blew pretty hard, and all
at once the boatmen put the helm down and turned back to Chin-
hai ! They said it was going to blow hard, they could make no
progress against the wind, and there was no place to anchor during
the night. Several boats ahead of us also turned back, and as the
Chinese "are good barometers," we did not like to insist on their
going ahead. But though the wind was fair and strong for Chin-
hai, yet such was the strength of the adverse tide, that we could
make no progress whatever against it, and it was not till midnight
that we found ourselves going ahead. It was now blowing pretty
hard, raining, and a tolerably heavy sea, so that we were not
sorry when the anchor was dropped in Chinhai, twenty-four hours
after we had left it. I am not very successful in sea voyages.
May 27th. Thursday. Strong wind and dull weather, and no
prospect of getting off to-day. As Mr. Cole was anxious to go on
to Pooto, I looked about among the boats, and found another going
to Chapoo, as soon as the weather would permit. Although the
accommodations were of the most contracted kind possible, yet the
boat offered several advantages, and I engaged a passage. The
weather however continued such that going was quite impossible,
and as Mr. Cole could not go to Pooto, I spent the afternoon and
night in his boat.
May 28th. Friday morning opened with rain, as if it might con-
tinue long ; but about seven it cleared off somewhat, and as the
weather gave some indications of clearing off, and the wind came
436 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
from the south, the boatmen gave me some Iiopes of getting off to-
night or to-morrow morning ! Patience — " Let patience have her
perfect woric." Azhih came clown from Ningpo with some letters
for me from home, and I concluded to send Apuen back and take
Azhih along, as I had originally intended, but which his sickness
on Monday prevented.
May 29th. Saturday opened very dull indeed; wind fair, but
weather dark, and raining at times. Boatmen said they could
not go to-day ; so I said, I could not go to-morrow, as it will be
Sunday. This brought them to a decision, and after some con-
sultation, the head man came and said they would start in the
evening, and if the wind continued fair, one tide would take us to
Chapoo. They were very anxious to have us go, for there are
many pirates about just now, and the presence and flag of a for-
eigner is a protection not to be despised. I carry no arms, but
such is the terror in all this part of the country of foreigners, that
it is thought no pirates would venture to attack a boat which had
one on board. Not only my own boatmen, but those of nine or
ten other boats which are going together to Chapoo, expect mate-
rial protection from my presence alone. I do not like going just
now, for it will oblige me to spend the Sabbath on the road ; but I
do not well know how to avoid this, for the Convention meets on
Tuesday, and for me to wait at Chinhai till Monday will make it
impossible to be there in time ; doubtful whether I can be in time
as it is, but I hope to be in Chapoo during the night, and by get-
ting a boat early in the morning, and stopping at some quiet
place on the canal, I can spend the Sabbath in peace.
Left Chinhai at noon, and anchored under " Joshouse hill" till
about five, p. m., when the tide set fair for Chapoo, and witii a fair
wind we made sail. It was a beautiful afternoon, and the sun set
without a cloud. My boat was filled up with one hundred and
sixteen bales of mats, each containing seventy-five mats, in all 8,700,
besides other things. This filled it so full as hardly to leave room
to move. There were seven boatmen, six Chinese passengers,
and myself The apartment I occupied was about eight feet
square, and in the middle high enough for me to sit not very com-
fortably. This was occupied by myself, to whom was given the
back part, as the most retired, and by my servant, a Chinese
passenger and his servant, and another passenger, who turned out
to be an acquaintance of Azhih. It was " pretty thick" work ;
master and man were close together, and it was hard to say to
whom the various arms and legs belonged ; outside was no better,
for the boatmen were as crowded as we were. Among the boat-
men was one much given to story telling, and he amused the other
boatmen and the passengers for two or three hours, with an inces-
sant stream of talk.
We went on finely, and got to Chapoo very soon after midnight;
but owing to the crowded and close state of the apartment, I slept
JOURNAL ON ROUTE TO SHANGHAI. 437
very little all night. The rest of the company, however, seemed
to feel little inconvenience.
Sabbath. In the morning fonnd the receding tide had left our
boat high and dry in the mud, and the only way to get to shore,
nearly a quarter of a mile off, was by wading through the mud,
or going in a chair. Had the boat been at all comfortable, I
should have stayed and spent the Sabbath in her, but the idea of
spending a Sabbath in such a confined apartment, on a mud flat,
and with people busy taking out the cargo, was not agreeable.
So I sent Azhih off to get a boat for Shanghai. He got one for
twenty-six hundred cash, not quite two dollars; but when I got
there, and they found it was a " Red haired man," they insisted
on five dollars. We agreed at last on four thousand cash, nearly
three dollars, the day to be spent at some quiet place, and to pro-
ceed to Shanghai to-morrow. It was about eight o'clock when
we got to the entrance of the canal leading to Shanghai and Soo-
chow. The wind was fair and strong for Shanghai, and the boat-
men would have liked much to have gone on, but as they knew
the increase of their pay depended partly on staying, they said
little, and fastened the boat stem and stern to a couple of lines at
the side of the canal.
I now began to feel the effects of the accommodations and sleep-
lessness of the night, in a headache, which, though not severe,
effectually prevented all reading till about noon. Otherwise my
situation was very pleasant, and the Sabbath passed quietly away.
I could not avoid noticing the immense number of boats of all
shapes and sizes, which went out from Chapoo, and passed us on
their way to Shanghai, Soochow, and other places. It would cer-
tainly be a moderate estimate to say that in four hours, there were
upwards of three hundred boats, and perhaps twice that number
would be nearer the truth, for in the little reach of the canal, about
quarter of a mile long, where my boat is moored, there was never
less than one boat passing through, and frequently from four to
ten at the same time.
The dialect of Chapoo is so much like that of Ningpo, that my
servant finds no difficulty in talking with the people and under-
standing them. It has some peculiarities, however, which makes
it difficult for me at present to understand it ; and I find that they
understand me much better than I do them.
I did not go into the city. In fact my coming this way at all,
is against the law ; but as no notice has been taken of several
persons, who have passed and repassed without permits, I have
made no scruple in walking through such of the streets as was
necessary in getting to the boat. Crowds collected to see me, but
I observed no rudeness, and but seldom heard the term " white
devil,"' which, indeed, is often used without intending any insult.
Chapoo is the town where the English met with the fiercest re-
sistance, as it is partly inhabited by Manchus, who are much
braver than the Chinese. It would seem, from the number of
438 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
boats to be a place of some business and population, though I sup-
pose the canal I ain now on, is the greatest of all the arteries that
issue from it.
May 31st. Monda}'. Started during the night, and on going out
in the morning about sunrise, found ourselves at a thriving town,
called San Kew, twenty-seven le from Chapoo, or about nine miles.
The canal was here quite wide and deep, and at each end of
the (own was crossed by a beautiful arched bridge. The hand-
somest tower I have seen in China stood by one of the bridges.
It was five stories high, had galleries all round in each story,
sounding bells attached to the cornices, ropes passing up and
down, with some beautiful trees close by, and the whole looked
new and clean. For many miles we passed on through a country,
occupied with fields of wheat, and stalk-beans nearly ripe. The
people have not yet commenced their rice, but will in a very few
days ; they are three weeks behind those of Ningpo. The banks
of the canal are lined with willows or mulberry trees to feed
silk-worms, and the water-wheels are generally covered with
thatched roofs, which is quite an improvement on the plan at
Ningpo, where no such care is shown. I did not observe when
we left the canal for the Hwangpoo river, but it was some time
during the forenoon. We made pretty good progress till about
noon, when we were thirty-seven miles from Shanghai, where we
found the tide unfavorable, and as we were now beating by long
tacks against the wind, we came to anchor and got dinner. Pro-
ceeded again about dark, but had to anchor during the next tide.
Went on again at daylight on Tuesday, and by seven o'clock
reached Shanghai. A forest of masts of junks filled the river,
but there were no foreign ships. Found my way to Bishop
Boone's without difficulty, and after breakfast went out with Mr.
Syle, to call on some of the foreign merchants and the mission-
aries. The foreign residences form quite a town, and when all
are finished will be a settlement quite unequalled in China. Some
of them are very expensive, and everything indicates an expecta-
tion of this place becoming, at no distant day, the head-quarters
of influence in China. Called on Messrs. Medhurst, Milne, and
Lockhart, but did not stay long at either place.
In the evening, went over the river with Dr. Boone, Mrs. Boone,
and a number of others, and walked among the rice-fields ; after-
wards, all spent the evening at Dr. Boone's, and so closed thefir«t
day of a residence in Shanghai, which they all tell me will exteu 1
to six months or a year, a length of time which I had not at all
anticipated.
Shanghai^ June 3d, 1847.
My Dear Father —
In some of my previous letters, I mentioned to you my expec-
tation of visiting this place. The object is to be present at the
LETTERS. 4S9
Convention for the revision of the translation of the New Testa-
ment, to which I have been appointed one of the delegates. The
other delegates are Drs. Medhiirst, Boone, Bridgenian, and Mr. J.
Stronach. I do not yet know of any others, and presume there
are no others. Bridgeman and Stronach are not here yet, but are
expected daily. I supposed the Convention would not sit more
than six or seven weeks, but every one here seems to think that
six months is the shortest possible time, and a year is spoken of
as more probable. The work is important enough, no doubt, to
deserve so much time, though I have some doubts as to the ex-
pediency of it just now. However, as I am the youngest and
least skilled in Chinese of all the members, I do not expect to do
very much, except to look on and see what is done. In the mean
time, I expect to pursue my Chinese studies, much as at Ningpo,
except that I fear I shall lose in the practice in the colloquial of
that place. The dialect here is a good deal like that of Ningpo,
and yet so much unlike, that while I can make myself tolerably
well understood, I find a good deal of difficulty in understanding
others ; but a little practice will assist me.
I left Ningpo, May 24th, but owing to adverse winds, had to lie
at the mouth of the river till the 29th. I then came by way of
Chapoo to this place in three days, one of which, being the Sab-
bath, was spent at anchor in the canal. I did not apply for a per-
mit to come by the way of Chapoo, and met no molestation or
hinderance in passing through that place. The route from Ningpo
to Shanghai, via Chapoo, may now be considered an open route,
as several foreigners have passed both ways, and no notice has
been taken of it by the Chinese authorities. It is a great con-
venience to us, and is one among the many evidences, how the
country is opening. Chang-Chow, where the visit of Mr. Abeel
and myself made so much noise, some years ago, has been vis-
ited several times of late, and I have no doubt that the country
will be as wide open in a few years as we can desire it.
Your letter of December 17th reached me last week, also two
mission letters of November and December
1 have referred so often to my Dictionary, that I am afraid you
will be tired of the very mention of it, but I will trouble you once
more. 1 have collected all the significations of all the words in
the Four Books, and have concluded to go on with the work so as
to inckule the Five Classics, though perhaps I may not include
the Le Ke, a large and for the most part very trifling and useless
work. In the Four Books there are in all two thousand three
hundred and forty-five different characters, and in the Four Books
and Five Classics, the Le Ke excepted, there are rather more than
four thousand and two hundred. I may perhaps send a list of
them some day, from which you will see that the great body of
the language is contained in them, i. e., the great body of the
really useful characters. Now, my plan is to give each of these
characters with its pronunciation in Mandarin, and in the dialect
440 IMEMOIR OF WALTER M. I.OWRIE.
of each of the five ports now open to foreigners. Then to give
the etymology of the word from native dictionaries, where I think
such etymology worth notice. Then to give the different signifi-
cations, whether as verbs, nouns, adjectives, &c., and at least one
quotation to illustrate each signification, with reference to the
page and line where found. Tiiis will be the body of the work :
but ray plan includes a good deal more, for as the whole of the
ancient history, geography, <fcc. of China is contained in these
Four Books and Five Classics, I want m}'^ work to be a sort of
■' Classical Dictionary" on these points. Hence I propose short
biographical, historical, geographical sketches under the appro-
priate characters, with references to such native and foreign
authors as may give the student fuller details. You see this is a
pretty extensive plan. As to time, I have no idea that 1 can do it
in less than five years, without neglecting other works which I
think are entitled to the first place.
But here I am met by a great difficulty. We have few books
in Ningpo. My library is by far the best there, and yet it is a
poor thing compared with some that are in China, and it is miser-
ably deficient in works relating to China, many of which are
quite essential to me, in carrying on my undertaking. Is there
any way of supplying this want I The books I refer to would
cost I suppose some five hundred dollars, and would be of great
service, not merely to myself, but to all our mission, and I think
ought to be possessed in a mission like ours. I will make out a
hst of them in a few days, and send to you by next mail. I
mentioned several of them in some former letters, which I hope
you w^ill be able to procure. They are all to be had in Paris or
Berlin. . . .
My health is very good, and I remain as ever,
Your affectionate son,
W. M. LOWRIE.
Shanghai, June 4th, 1847.
My Dear Mother —
.... I am now staying at Bishop Boone's, and see as much
company in a day as I did in Ningpo in a month. I do not know
yet how long I am to stay at Shanghai, but I suppose at least six
months, to my great regret. I shall be glad if it be not a year.
The change of scene and air and employment has done me good,
for I had begun to "run down" in Ningpo, and lost both appetite
and fiesh. This, however, did not alarm me, for it has been so
every summer since my coming to China. . . .
The changes here since my visit two years ago, are quite sur-
prising. A whole new town of foreign houses has sprung up since
then, and some of them are quite magnificent. It will soon be
the Canton of the North, but give me Ningpo for a residence and
for missionary labors.
LETTERS. 441
I believe you do not know an3'body here, so I have nothhig to
say about them to-day. . . .
Ever afTectionately yours,
W. M. LOWRIE.
S'haiig-kai, July 23d, 1847.
Rev. John C. Lowrie —
My Dear Brother : — I am in your debt for several letters,
which I must now endeavor to repay. I have been here nearly
two months, and as yet am quite unable to give any defmitc idea
when we sliall get through. Owuig to the uncertainty of travel-
ling up and down this coast, some members of the Convention did
not get here till the 28th ult. ; while 1, v.ho was punctual to the
day, had to wait on my oars from the 1st ult. After we got to-
gether, all went on well for a week, when we were stopped by a
question which has excited no little talk and writing for some time,
'• What is the proper word for God in Chinese?" Morrison and
Milne have adopted the word jjjhp Shin, which, according to the
best judgment I can form, means God, or Divinity in general.
Mr. Medhurst for many years used the same term, and even so
late as this present year, 1847, has published a dictionary in which
he says, " The Chinese themselves, for God, and invisible beings
in general, use j|jn-| shin." But some twelve years ago or more, he
began to use h ^^ Shang Te, Supreme rider, for the true
God, and jljm shin for false god. Mr. Gutslaffalso did the same ;
and these two being the best and most experienced Chinese schol-
ars, had of course great weight. And most of the missionaries
were carried away by their example. For some years past, how-
ever, there has been a good deal said on the subject, and a strong
disposition manifested to return to the old way. H f^ Shang Te
is objected to, first, as being the distinctive title of the national de-
ity of China, and hence something like the Jupiter of Rome ; and
second, it is not a generic term, and cannot be used in such pas-
sages as " Chemosh thy God, and Jehovah our God," '-If Jehovah
be God," &c. " The unknown God, him declare I unto you,"
<fcc. In fact there are many verses where the point and en»phasis
rests on the use of the same generic word all through, as in John
X. 35. 36, 1 Cor. viii. 6, ttc. Hence of late many of the mission-
aries wish to return to the old v.'ord, and a good deal has been
written in the Chinese Repository, and a great deal said on the
subject. Dr. Medhurst, however, lias taken up the cudgels in
earnest, and printed a book of nearly three hundred pages, in
which he maintains that jtj}]] shin, never means god, much less
the supreme God. This, by the way, is in opposition to three dic-
tionaries of his own, published in the last ten years. And he fur-
442
MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
ther maintains that ^ te, which properly means rider, is the gen-
eric term for God in Chinese ; and that I^ ^* Shmig- Te, '-High
or Supreme Ruler," is the proper word to translate E/ohim and
Theos, when they refer to the true God. So the case stood when
the Convention met. We went on with the revision very well, till
we came to Matt. i. 23, where the word Theos occurs. Dr. Bridg-
man then proposed that we use the word jjjMj Shin. Bishop Boone
seconded this ; and it was well known that my views coincided
with theirs. Dr. Medhurst and Mr. Stronach, took decided ground
iff ^^''^'^S' '^^- ^^^ so we have now been discussing this
question for three weeks, Medhurst and Boone being chief speak-
ers. The latter is a superior debater, and having a very quick
and logical mind, pressed Dr. Medhurst so closely, that he declared
he must have all down in black and white. We agreed to this,
and Bishop Boone and myself worked hard for a week, and wrote
out an argument for MH Sliin. covering twenty-six folio pages.
Mr. Medhurst, who had spent five months in writing his book,
and scarcely allowed us ten days to answer it, took our answer
so seriously, that he said he must have some weeks to prepare a
reply. So he and Mr. Stronach are now engaged on tliis. I
greatly fear that the result of all will be, that each side will hold
their own views, and Dr. Medhurst and Mr. Stronach will secede.
In that case there will be two veisions or none. A large majority
of the missionaries in China, I believe, are for jljtR Shin; most of
our missionaries are strongly for it, though one or two hesi-
tate a little; all the Baptists; all the Episcopalians, botli Eng-
lish and Americans; most of the American Board missionaries,
and several even of the London Missionary Society. This of it-
self is a strong proof for j|j[T| Shin, for it shows that even the ac-
knowledged Chinese scholarship of Medhurst and Gutzlaff is not
able to command assent for p 'pj^ Shaug Te. But I did not
mean to write so much on this.
. . . This summer, so far, has been very pleasant ; nothing like
so hot as last year. I am staying at Bishop Boone's, where they
make ine feel very comfortable. Hitherto our agreement of views
on the question we have been discussing, has made us the best of
friends. He is of course a strong Episcopalian, but withal very-
catholic, and speaks very cordially of " other churches" and their
ministers as " ministers of Christ." He has shown an excellent
spirit, thus far, in the convention.
Mr. Milne often speaks of you with much kindness. He and
Medhurst and Stronach, are all well. Believe me ever,
Your affectionate brother,
W. M. LOWRIE.
LETTERS. 443
Ningpo, 29th July, 1847.
My Dear Father —
.... I think it probable that we shall have the remainder of the
discussions respecting the term for God next week. It is n\y daily
prayer that we may be directed to a right conclusion. The im-
portance of tlie subject seems to grow the more it is examined,
though this is often the case, even in imimportant matters, when
the mind is intently fixed on them ; and the more examination I
give it, the more I feel satisfied that without the generic term for
God, it will be extremely difficult to give the Chinese correct ideas
of our theology. If that. word be not Shin, I am utterly unable
to see what it is. Dr. Medhurst now says it is Te, but this is an
idea taken up within the last five months, and is in opposition to
all his own dictionaries, and translations, and to all the experience
of all who have ever written in or on the language. I make my
remarks in this sweeping style, because convinced of their truth.
Even the Chinese say, "We don't use the word Te in that sense."
Oh for the Spirit of wisdom and grace to direct us ! It is a mat-
ter of much thankfulness that Dr. Boone's health permits him to
take an active part in tlie discussion ; as the character of his mind
and acquirements, and his readiness as a debater, are of the utmost
importance in discussing with Dr. Medhurst. Having no fondness
for such contests, I say but little ; but spend a good deal of time
with Dr. B. in examining the subject in the native Chinese authors.
1 hope in the next overland to be able to give an account of the
close of the discussion. In the meantime, I suppose it will be bet-
ter not to publisii anything about it, beyond the general fact of
the Convention being in session.
I am anxious to study the Manchti Tartar, a language not
studied as yet by any one of the missionaries, but of great import-
ance in explaining Chinese, as the French scholars have shown
in their books published in France ; and which, as this country
becomes open to us, and allows us to go further north, will be
found to be of great utility. See an article on this subject in the
Chinese Repository of 1844, Ijy Mr. Cushing. For this, I would
like the following books : — Gerbillon, Elementa Lingua Tartarica ;
Amyot, Grammaire Tartare Mantchou : Langles, Dictionnaire
Tartare Mantchou Francais, 3 vols. 4to ; Klaproth, Chrestoma-
ihie Maiidchou : Paris, 1828.
So far the sunniier is very pleasant, and my health better than
in any previous summer. . . .
Your very afifectionate son, W. M. Lowrie.
Shanghai, August 8th, 1847.
Rev. Joseph Owen —
Dear Brother : — I wrote to you some time ago a letter which
I hope you have received. I now write on a special occasionj and
444 MEiMOIR OF WALTER U. LOWRIE.
shall be very glad if you can give me a pretty full answer by
return mail. I am here attending a Convention for revising the
Translation of the New Testament into Chinese. We are divi-
ded on one point of great importance. Some of us in transla-
ting D-^mbs? and Oeog^ wish to use the word jjj|i-J Shiji, which is
the Chinese term for God, or Divinity in general. It is applied to
all their gods, from the highest to tlie lowest, and to the spirits of
ancestors, which are always deified and worshipped by their de-
scendants ; and the being who is supposed to be in all their idols
is also called f\iU Shin. Hence it is the generic term for God,
just as ©fioSj (" Gods many and Lords many, but to us one God,"
&c.) Others of us prefer the term p f^ Shang-te, which means
Supreme Ruler, and is the name or title of the chief divinity
worshipped by the Chinese. This is not a generic term, nor ca-
pable of being applied alike to true and false gods, nor of being
used in the plural. Such is the state of the case.
What I want to ask is, what is the custom in India? Do you
find any term applied by the natives to all their gods? And do
you use this term, and say, " You worship many gods, but they
are false, and we preach to you the true God F Or do you use
a distinct term, iu speaking of the true God. from that used to
designate false gods 1
Some say that in Arabic there is one term for the true God,
which is used for him alone, and others for false gods ; and that
in such sentences as " Chemosh thy god, and Jehovah our God,"'
(Judges xi. 24.) dilFerent words are used to express the word
cmbx. Is this so? Any light you can give us will be very
valuable. Please direct to me at this place, care of Rt. Rev.
W. J. Boone. D. D., Shanghai, as I shall probably be here when
3'onr answer comes.
The question is a very important one here, and has been a good
deal discussed. Medhurst, and Gutzlaff, and John Stronach, are
the chief advocates of r f]if Shang-te ; Legge, Bridgman,
Boone, and myself, are among the supporters of jfirfj Skin, as were
Morrison and Milne before, and a majority of the present mission-
aries in China.
My health is very good, as is that of most of the members of
our mission, saving the languor produced by the heat of summer.
Poor Brother Speer has lost both his wife and daughter. Dr.
Medhurst preaches three times every Sabbath, and twice during
the week, to audiences varying from one bundled to four hundred
persons. Two or three |)ersous have been baptized here, and as
many in Ningpo, and, on the v.^hole, we are encouraged.
With kind regards to Mrs. Owen, and a kiss to your son, be-
lieve me, in haste, ever
Affectionately yours, W. M. Lowrie.
ON THE REAL TRIALS OF A MISSIONARY. 445
P. S. Do not delay to answer my inquiries. If you have any
pamphlets on this subject which you can spare, 1 would like to
see them.
Ning-po, November 3d, 1847.
Walter Lowrie, Esa. —
My Dear Sir : — I send to you, by this opportunity, a long ar-
ticle, which I found among the papers of your much lamented son,
which were sent down from Shanghai. I have been deepl3Mnter-
ested in reading it, and if published, it will now speak with more
powerful effect to those to whom it is addressed, because the be-
loved author has gone to receive his reward where these trials will
be known no more forever. I have often conversed with him on
the subject of which the paper treats, and many of the sentiments
it contains, I have heard him repeat frequently in conversation —
sentiments to which I can subscribe with all my heart, though to
many of them not so feelingly as he could. . . .
Affectionately yours in Christ,
M. S. CULBERTSON.
It is high time that the romance of missions were done away.
It is high time that not merely the missionaries themselves, but
the churches who send them out and pray for them, and wait to
hear of their successes, should form sober and just views of the
various parts of the missionary work. Yet 1 know of few harder
things to be done than this. Owing to improper and highly col-
ored statements early laid before the Christian public, and to the
even yet too common practice of presenting only one side of the
picture, in platform speeches, the idea has become engrained in the
minds of multitudes of Christians, that the missionary work is
something radically different from that of the minister at home.
Moreover, there are comparatively few of the members of our
churches who appreciate aright the state of the heathen. Vague
general impressions of great wickedness, are nearly all that most
people have of the condition of idolaters. One of the worst conse-
quences of this vagueness of impression is, that Christians form no
definite or accurate conception of the nature of the work to be
performed. They are perpetually applying to the heathen their
knowledge of what exists among Christian communities ; or per-
haps more properly it is this : Many Christians think of missiona-
ries as beings almost above the ordinary vicissitudes and weak-
nesses of humanity ; as having already " begun to enjoy heaven ;"
and they think of the heathen as certainly possessing much of the
general knowledge which is so commonly possessed at home, that
no one thinks of recollecting where he learned it.
Now the influence of these two mistakes is most injurious. It
is easy for the missionary to see the injury they produce; but it is
not so easy to remedy them. I know of hardly any way in which
446 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
they can be remedied, except by the missionary opening up and
spreading out his own heart and his own feehngs before the
Christian pubUc. Could our brethren at home but see the heathen
as we see them, and share our feehngs as we look upon them, a
more sober and practical view of things would soon possess the
minds of the churches. It may be said, " Well, this is a very sim-
ple affair. Why do you not thus tell us what you think and feel?"
Because, brethren, simple though it seems, it is one of the hardest
and most perilous things a man can attempt to do. When a
man talks of himself and of his own feelings, he is almost sure
to be betrayed into egotism, and egotism will rarely fail to give
disgust. It is a very hard thing for a man to talk of his own say-
ings and doings, without mingling a little more of himself in what
he says than he ought ; and the consciousness of this keeps many
a man on mere generalities or descriptions, which excite little
interest, while his own feelings, which would thrill through your
very hearts, are carefully and purposely, and in many cases wisely
kept in the recesses of his own bosom.
It is a blessing to any Missionary Society when it possesses
among its missionaries one or more of those humble, simple-
minded, sincere laborers, who can talk of themselves, and reveal
their own feelings without offence, or giving rise to the thought
that they are seeking to make themselves conspicuous. Such a
man was the late Rev. R. W. Sawyer. Few communications
more deeply interesting than his have appeared in our Missionary
Chronicle; and the reason mainly was, that the feelings of the
man were simply and truthfully depicted in his journals. There
was in them no effort at display ; those who knew the man would
never suspect him of such a motive. Had it pleased God to spare
his life, we might have hoped in a few years to have had a series
of connnunications from him, which, stating simply the true con-
dition of the heathen, and giving his own earnest feelings along
therewith, would have rectified the views of many respecting the
character of missionary labors in heathen lands. But he has gone
to an early grave, and to his crown in the heavens.
The writer of this is not competent to do what Brother Sawyer
might have done. He feels that he does not possess that meek,
unambitious spirit, and that for him to attempt to write thus
fully and frankly, would be to expose himself to the charge of os-
tentatiously parading his own emotions, a thing that would defeat
the very object of such communications. Yet being deeply anx-
ious to correct some of the misconceptions that prevail, I shall en-
deavor in this essay to give, in a somewhat general form, some of
the facts and feelings with which myself and other missionaries
have been conversant. If in doing this, I should after all fall into
the error above referred to, it will only be an additional proof of
the truth of the remark ; and may I not hope that those who may
detect the error, or the sin, will at least be convinced by it, that
missionaries are men of like passions with others, and must be
ON THE REAL TRIALS OF A MISSIONARY. 447
sustained by God's grace, and the prayers of God's people, that
they may rightly prosecute their work among the heathen.
Much misapprehension exists at home as to the nature of the
trials of missionaries in heathen lands. Even yet there are those
who fancy that they consist almost wholly in temporal or bodily
privations. Now the truth is, that though there are outward trials
experienced by missionaries, and some which would call forth
many complaints from some who dwell in their "ceiled houses" at
home, yet in most missions these are the trials that give least un-
easiness. In fact, in most mission stations, the missionary lives in
a state of bodily comfort, such as your backwoods' ministers and
domestic missionaries might envy. The new missionary, with his
romantic feelings fresh in him, and his ignorance of the wants of a
strange climate, is sometimes surprised at the state of comfort in
which he finds his predecessors living ; and cases have occurred,
where, on the details of their mode of life being communicated at
home, no small ill-feeling and dissatisfaction has been produced
among warm friends of missions. 1 will not deny that, in some
cases, more time and more expense have been bestowed by the
missionary, in making his nest comfortable, than ought to have
been given ; but I am persuaded that, were the churches fully
aware of the state of things produced by the climate, character of
the people, and nature of the work to be performed, they would
feel that too liitle attention has been given b}^ the missionaries to
their bodily condition. The remark is frequently made in the
East, by those who have longest lived here, that American mis-
sionaries are too economical ; and I certainly know of cases, where
the spending of a few more dollars in procuring attendance of ser-
vants and bodily comforts would have, humanly speaking, averted
many an hour of suffering and sickness, and perhaps would have
prevented some of those " returns of missionaries" of which so
many complaints have been made.
In hot climates, good houses and a sufficient number of ser-
vants, are not mere matters of luxury. I have brought on myself
an atttack of sickness, by going on foot only a short distance in
the middle of the day, when prudence would have ordered me to
spend a quarter or a half dollar, and go in a chair carried on
men's shoulders. It would have been economy too, for the time
lost by the sickness was of far more value than the few cents
saved by the course adopted. Some of the complaints made at
home respecting the extravagance of missionaries strike us here,
as inconsistent with the expectations entertained by those who make
them. We are sent here, having among our secondary objects, to
teach civilization ; and some complain that we live in a civilized
style. We are sent here to introduce among the people some of
those refinements that adorn civilized life ; and yet, there are act-
ually some who complain of a missionary's wife for cultivating
flowers in her garden, or hanging pictures round her room !
Possibly too, some of these austere censors would object to the
448 MEMOIR OF WALTKIl M. LOWRIE.
praclice lliat some of us have, of spending an evening occasionally
in visiLing at a friend's, where lively conversation occupies the
time, and little or no direct allusion is made to the great work in
which we are engaged. I do not refer to these things in a cap-
tious or fault-finding spirit. Probably there are few who make
such complaints, and those more from thoughtlessness than from
settled distrust of the self-denying and laborious spirit of those who
are the objects of their censures.
The object of the remainder of this essay will be, to give some
of the real trials of a missionary. I do not do this as complaining
of them, but partly for the sake of setting those right, who may
entertain romantic and consequently erroneous views ; and chieily
to beg an interest in the prayers of those who read. Knowing
our trials, you will know what we need. Knowing what we
need, you will not fail to beseech God to supply our necessities.
The missionary's first trial is conmionly in the language he has
to learn, and that in several respects. He comes to his station
and feels himself on missionary ground. lie is astonished and
almost sickened by sights of idolatry which he had heard of, in-
deed, at home, but which he now sees with his own eyes. His
heart is overflowing with ihe desire to testify against the sins he
sees, and burning with zeal to urge upon the people repentance
towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. Oh for
the tongue of an angel to speak unto them the words of life !
Alas ! my brother, your mouth is closed, your tongue is tied. You
cannot speak witli even "stammering lips" in this "other tongue."
What would you not give now for the gift of tongues ! But there is
no help for it, and restraining your zeal as you may, or employing
it in prayer to God, since you cannot speak to men, you sit down
to your books, with your heathen teacher at your side, and work
away, in a hot climate, sustained by hope. You are all anxiety
to learn the language, and you toil away, day and night, forget-
ting or neglecting the advice and warning of your more expe-
rienced predecessors. The stock of health and the vigor you have
brought from your native land, and your sea voyage, sustain you,
and you feel no particular need of extra care to preserve your
health. Months pass away. If you are in India, you begin to
talk some in less than a year ; if in China, during your second
year. But about this time the impression steals over you, that
you have not quite so much bodily vigor as you once had ; and if
you are thoughtful, the fact that you catch yourself reclining on
a couch at times, when in your own country you would never
have thought of such an indulgence, leaves the unpleasant con-
viction on your mind, that though all things in the way of hard
study may be possible or lawful, yet certainly " all things are not
expedient ;" and that if you wish for length of years and prolonged
usefulness in your heathen abode, it must be at the sacrifice of
some of the diligent and close application that your own climate
would allow, and your own country would require.
ON THE REAL TRIALS OF A MISSIONARY. 449
Sooner or later you begin to talk with your teacher and serv-
ants, and by degrees you get them to understand that you really
have not come out to make money, or seek pleasure, or gain
honor. Perhaps they will think that you are some sort of a re-
ligious devotee, who expects to merit heaven by the performance
of good works, and that you have chosen the profession of a mis-
sionary as that in which your energies are to be spent. How often
have I heard it said of me, that I was the son of a very rich man,
who came out here to see the world, and amuse myself! Others,
again, could not be persuaded that I was not the agent of our
government, with some confidential errand. Others, again, that
at the longest I should remain but four or five years, and then go
back home. If, surmounting all these misapprehensions, you at
last get those around you to understand your motive, you will
scarcely avoid being cut to the heart by finding that they do not
appreciate it in the slightest degree. Although you have come
out to do them good, and your heart's desire and prayer is, that
they may be saved, yet you will be highly favored indeed if you
do not find yourself cheated by your servants, and ridiculed by
your teacher behind your back, and regarded as an "outside for-
eigner," and fair game by the community in general.
You will find, too, that the study of a hard, dry language has
a disheartening effect on your zeal and ardor as a missionary.
It is not easy to study out declensions, and cases, and tenses, and
conjugations, and particles, and to wade through dull tomes of
heathen learning, nonsensical speculations, and unintelligible
metaphysics, and at the same time to keep up the freshness and
simplicity of spirit and the earnestness, that are necessary in
speaking face to face with an unconverted man. The two things
are certainly not incompatible ; but it will not be surprising, if,
when engaged in such studies, under the influence of an exhaust-
ing climate, you find yourself losing some of that ardor you felt
when your foot first rested on a heathen soil, and your eye first
saw men bowing down to idols. And as by this time you will
liave had the sad proof which experience gives, that the hearts of
the heathen are not naturally open to receive the gospel, and that
they are more ready to laugh at your blunders in pronunciation
than to practise your exhortations to piet}^, it will not be strange
if you find some disinclination to open your mouth at all. As.
this is an unexpected difficulty, it may cost you many a painful
reflection ere you find it removed.
Here is another difficulty which meets you in the language, and
one which you never dreamed of when you were preaching or
talking on religion at home. You are learning a heathen lan-
guage, and it has few terms to express Christian ideas. What
word will you use to speak of God ? There is no word in the
language which is not polluted by associations with idolatry. If
you use the name of the highest divinity known to the people,
they will think you favor their own system of religion. If you
29
450 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
use the abstract term for God, they will ask, " What God do you
mean ?" and perhaps will run over the names of half a dozen of
their principal gods, to see if it be not some one of these you in-
tend. You say, no ; you mean " the true God." Why, they
never thought of such a thing as a false god ! They will very
willingly allow that your God is a true God, but they expect equal
toleration for their own ; and you will find it no easy matter to
convince them that when you speak of God, you mean only one.
How will you tell them of Jesus, that dear name on which all
your hopes are centered? It is a stranger to them, and, I speak with
reverence and with sorrow, the mention of it excites no more emo-
tion in their minds, than of Ceesar, or Pompey, or William, or James.
How will you tell them of the Spirit .^ They have not so much
as heard whether there be a Holy Ghost. Nay, so materialized has
become their language, that it is very doubtful whether you can
find a word that means Spirit in it. What will you do for "justi-
fication," " adoption," " sanctification," " effectual calling," " elec-
tion," " salvation," " faith," and fifty other terms, without which
no sermon is ever composed, and no prayer ever offered at home?
You will not find them. You will be surprised to find that even
the most experienced missionaries are not perfectly agreed as to
what are the best terms to be used; and you will at last find your-
self obliged to settle down on the conviction that the language of the
people must be converted and Christianized, as well as the people
themselves.
You have not the gift of tongues, but must learn the language
by a slow and laborious process ; for the dictionaries, grammars,
and other helps for learning it, are not quite so good as those
for learning Latin and Greek. When it is learned, you find it
is not an instrument all ready for use ; but that you must
mould and polish it, to make it express ideas that it never expressed
before.
But we will suppose that these first difficulties are overcome ;
and though you are still far from being a ready speaker, yet you
can delay no longer, but must deliver your message, whether men
will hear, or whether they will forbear. You have your first ser-
mon prepared. You have studied it carefully. You have prayed
over it. You have wept over it. You prepare your house, or
chapel, or whatever it may be. You open your doors, and with a
heart not wholly calm and at ease, you wait for your hearers.
Do they come, " like clouds, and like doves to their windows ?"
Not at all. If your house is on a frequented thoroughfare, they
come tumbling in, as if to a theatre, or a puppet-show. If in a
more retired situation, they drop in by twos and threes, to see the
stranger, or to hear and tell of some new thing. After getting
something like order established, you commence to talk to them ;
and if you get on better than you expected, you are much gratified.
Some few give a fixed attention ; and yet if your own eyes are
about you, you must see that even they are occasionally puzzled
ON THE REAL TRIALS OF A MISSIONARY. 451
to know what you mean. The most of your audience, however,
stare vacantly ; or hsten as they would to the chattering of a
monkey, or the voice of a strange animal. Perhaps some one
may audibly say he does not understand you ; or perhaps others
may praise your correct pronunciation, and declare that you must
be a very talented man to be able to speak their language so well.
But probably in the midst of your discourse, it may be, whilst you
are delivering some of your most earnest exhortations, two or three
get up and walk out ; or one man commences an audible conver-
sation with his neighbor; another smokes his pipe ; and another
takes nuts out of his pocket, and very deliberately employs him-
self in munching them.
Nevertheless, you are encouraged. Your mouth is at last
opened ; and you pour out to God the fulness of a grateful heart,
that to one who is less than the least of all saints is this grace
given, to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of
Christ. On the next Sabbath you go to your place with rather
more confidence and hope. But perhaps it is a rainy day, and no
one comes, and you are dreadfully cast down.
After a few days' experience you begin to be accustomed to the
fluctuations and turbulence of a heathen audience, and to feel less
anxiety as to your own ability to speak to them. You can now
observe some things better than at first. One thing that you soon
notice, is, that few come a second time. Once is enough, when
they find you are talking of subjects that will neither fill their bel-
lies, nor clothe their backs, nor put money in their purses. Prob-
ably enough, a few will come more than once ; but rarely will
any come regularly. You might care less for this, if those that
did come, would stay to hear all you have to say at one time ;
but unless you use some art, or assume some authority, or lock
your door, you will probably find that half of those who heard the
beginning, will not hear the end of your discourse ; while all that
some will get, might not inappropriately be compared to the " two
legs, or a piece of an ear," that the shepherd taketh out of the
mouth of the lion.
You find too, that your hearers are utterly ignorant of most of
the first principles of the oracles of God. It will take you some
time to appreciate the thick darkness that covers them. There is
'•' a covering over them, a veil spread over the nations," of which
those educated in a Christian land can form little conception. No
child in your Sabbath-schools at home is so ignorant, as is every
man and woman to whom you preach here. Nor is this strange.
No mother ever taught them a Catechism ; no church-going bell
ever sounded in their eai-s ; no Sabbath ever disturbed their cease-
less round of business, amusement, and sin. They have bowed
down to idols, until they think their gods are like themselves; and
when you attempt to speak to them of Him who made the heavens,
you bring strange things to their ears. Talk of Jehovah, and they
at once suppose he is your national god, or perhaps some god of
452 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
the hills, but not of the valleys. Talk of Jesus and the Resurrec-
tion, and they will say you are " a setter forth of strange gods."
They never heard of Jesus. Tell them he is the Son of God,
and they begin to ask about God's wife, and how many children
he lias. Tell tiieni of Abraham, and Moses, and David, and Eli-
jah, and Paul, and John, and the names are totally new. They
never heard (hem before, and they awaken no associations in their
Diinds. Tell them of the wonders of the creation and the deluge,
of the plagues of Egypt and the flames of Sinai, the desert and
the Jordan, and the Promised Land, and if they find no difliculty
in believing you, it is because their own books tell them tales as
wonderful as these, and believed with as implicit a faith as the
Bible is by us. Tell them of the miraculous conception of our
Lord, and they are rather pleased to hear it ; for in their histories
there are several instances of the same nature recorded. Miracles
make little impression on their minds, for they have read of many
equally wonderful, and their minds, untrained to weigh evidence
and balance testimonies, place the same confidence in lying le-
gends as in the Scriptures of truth. What hold have you on such
minds as these? And when, leaving the sphere of miracles and
external evidences, you come to the holy law anr' the internal evi-
dences of religion, which after all are the onl} ones you have to
depend on here, you are met by new difficulties. It is said of the
Indians of America, tliat when discovered by Columbus, they were
so ignorant of the character and power of their new visitors, that
they played with the most dangerous tools, and caught the naked
sword blades with their hands, not knowing that they woukl cut. It
is so here. AVield the " sword of the Spirit," as you will, if it is you
alone that wields it, it will make no impression. Their seared
consciences will suffer its sharpest edge and turn it aside, and they
will smile under your most solemn appeals, apparently unconscious
that the message can be for them. You find few among your
hearers in the United States, who cannot understand the allusions
to Scripture which you make, and not unfrequently it happens
that a bow drawn at a venture, sends a shaft to the obdurate heart.
h\ the life of the devoted McCheyne. it is said that he once took
shelter during a shower in a forge, where a man was attending a
furnace. Pointing to the blazing tiame, he said to one of the
workmen, " What does that remind you of?" That one simple
sentence, for he said no more, was under God the means of his
conversion. But the conversion of a heathen from hearing such
a remark, would be a miracle. He would not vmderstand the al-
lusion. It would excite no fears in his breast. Hence you must
be a teacher of babes — but no, for that would be a luxury com-
pared with this. You must be a teacher of those who are as igno-
rant of God's truth as babes are, and as full of sin as years and
heathenism can make them, and with hearts as firm as a stone,
yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone. If you are a
Christian, if you desire the glory of God, if you desire the salva-
ON THE REAL TRIALS OF A MISSIONARY. 453
tion of men, you cannot labor among such a people as this, with-
out some feelings of sorrow, which a table scantily supplied, or a
patched coat, or even a bed of sickness, has never told you of.
Our fluctuating audiences and constant new-comers keep us
always on the very simplest truths ; for few of those who heard
the sermon on the last Sabbath, come to hear the one of to-day.
Hence the same tale must be repeated every day, and without
much care to present the oft-told tale in a new light, the few who
may have come more than once or twice, become dissatisfied
at the repetition of the same truths, and come no more. In the
midst of all these discouragements, it will be very strange, if after
a few months or even less, you do not feel the thought rising up,
" Well, there is no use in talking to a people like this."
Depend upon it, my brother, you will not find yourself in heaven,
with the garments of your sinful mortality or liability to Satan's
temptations left behind you, merely because you are a missionary
to the heathen. While you are thus discouraged by seeing no
fruit to your labors, and apparently no effect produced, you will
not fail to find Satan busy with you, and your own heart second-
ing his assaults. You must not think that he will suffer you to
batter the walls where he has so long entrenched himself, without
an answering charge. The captives of the mighty and the prey
of the terrible one, will not be so easily let go. He will come to
you, and tell you that you are doing no good, and never will do
any ; that you had better cease at once, or go where you can do
more. He will fix your mind so strongly on the difficulties, as to
keep you from seeing the promises. He will fix your attention on
the weakness of the earthen vessel, and keep you from looking to
Him whose is the power and the glory ; and at times you will feel
such a repugnance to open your lips before a heathen audience,
such a shrinking from the work, that like Jonah when he fainted
and wished in himself to die, you will say, "It is better for me to
die than to live."
How long you may have to labor in thus gathering out the
stones, and clearing away the jungle, is of course not for man to
say. One might indeed conjecture, that it will be until you are
brought fully to feel, not only your own utter helplessness, but
also to long for the blessing and presence of the Spirit, " with
groanings that cannot be uttered." As long as there remains in
you any part of that spirit which will not give all the glory of suc-
cess to God, you can hardly expect a blessing on your labors ; and
perhaps God may see fit to humble you, by long failure of appar-
ent success, until your only wish be, " Let what may become of
the poor worm, but oh God, glorify thy name." But in the mean
time, if your heart is at all right, it will be no small trial to labor
thus. I speak not of the mere feeling of anxiety lest the expec-
tations of friends at home, anxious to hear of your success, should
be disappointed. There may be some with whom this is a main
motive to exertion ; but it is one of such inferior moment, com-
454 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
pared with that of commending one's self to God as a faithful
steward, that I should be sorry to see much prominence given to
it. But there are other considerations connected with such labors.
There is that of "hope deferred whicli maketh the heart sick,"
and there is that of loneliness.
Bear with me a moment. You look over your congregations,
and there are some whose faces beam back to you the emotions
you feel in your own hearts. There are some who love Jesus ;
some who are awakened ; some who are serious ; some who are
inquiring. You go out among your people, and you find at least
here and there a family altar erected. You may grieve as you
pass by the dram-shop ; but you never have to avert your face as
you pass an idol's temple. You go into the burying-grounds, and
can say, " This one sleeps in Jesus, and that loved friend I shall
meet in heaven." You look over a wide-spreading valley, as you
climb some hill in your pastoral visitations, and as you look over
the scattered houses, you can say, " In this and that house there
is one who can say, ' Christ is mine.' " How sweet are some of the
reflections excited by such objects, in the " Dairyman's Daughter !"
And there are few neighborhoods in your highly favored land,
where the faithful pastor is not privileged to make some such re-
flections. You are not alone. The Spirit of God moves among
you ; and the very air you breathe wafts sighs, and prayers, and
praise to heaven.
It is not so here. Our congregations are dead. We have no
Christian famihes to visit. It is not pleasant to go through the
crowded burial grounds here, or to look out over the plains.
Death reigns. An idol temple deforms every scene. The air is
loaded with the smoke of incense offered to devils. The breezes
waft sounds of idolatrous worship to our ears. We look over a
region where there are thousands and myriads of people, and we
feel that we are alone here. Oh, the loneliness, the utter desola-
tion of soul, I have sometimes felt in walking through these
crowded streets, the very dogs barking at me for a foreigner, and
not one among all these thousands to whom I could utter the name
of Jesus with any hope of a response. Dry bones ! Very many
in the open valley ! Very dry ! We are walking among decay-
ing skeletons, and grinning skulls, and death reigns. This is
loneliness. Brethren, I have read many accounts of the destitu-
tions and sorrows of domestic missionaries in the West, and the
times have not been few in which the unbidden thought has filled
my heart, and almost found utterance from my mouth, "Give me
^0117' privileges and I will share your sorrows." What are food
and drink compared to trials such as these ?
How long ! Oh Lord, how long ! these " long desolations ?"
Satan mocks ! As with a sword in my bones he reproacheth
me. He saith daily unto me, " Where is your God ?"
It may be that some, on reading these lines, will feel an emotion
of surprise, not unmixed with censure. " Is it a missionary who
ON THE REAL TRIALS OP A MISSIONARY. 455
writes thus? Are these the joys that missionaries feel? Are
these the complaints they utter? We thought they had been
men of stronger faith, of firmer nerve than this !" It may be you
have thought so. Many do, forgetting that we are men of like
passions with yourselves, and that we have not a healthful, vigor-
ous public sentiment to support us as you have. We have tempta-
tions like yours, perhaps worse, without your abundant external
means of guarding against them. Our souls are polluted by the
abominations with which we are surrounded. We have to look
on idolatry and vice as common things, and to accustom ourselves
to see with comparatively little concern things that would deprive
you of your rest. We must do this, for human nature could not
always bear up under the fresh horror, witli which the new mis-
sionary looks on these dark places so filled with the habitations of
cruelty. We must also more or less feel the influence of the
public sentiment of these heathen lands ; which, so unlike yours,
like the hot blasts of summer that weaken our bodies, blows over
our souls Avith its sickening influences, like the poisonous breath
of Ill-pause in the Holy War.
Say that we have converts. They do not speedily rise to the
stature of full-grown men, as so many of yours do. Far more
than ourselves, they are under the influence of the evil public
spirit that prevails here. It is hard for them to rise, as you see
men rising. We have no such richly stored libraries of books of
devotion to spread before them as you have. No Baxter, or
Flavel, or Doddridge ; nay, as yet, hardly even the blessed Bible
to put in their hands. We have not the Sabbath school, and the
bible class, the monthly tract visitor, the faithful elder, the mother
in Israel, and the goodly company of the church, to assist the
pastor in his work, as you have ; for almost the only Christian
example they can see is our own.
These discouragements and trials are inseparable from the
nature of our work. Some of them will wear away after a few
years, and others will give place to those of a diflferent character ;
but in the commencement of a new mission there must be such as
these. Some missionaries will feel them more than others ; but
as yet I have met with none who would not more or less sympa-
thize in the most of what is written above.
Fathers and brethren, mothers in Israel, and sisters in Christ,
make your own comments and reflections on what has been been
written; but forget not to pray for those who are often trou-
bled on every side, though not distressed ; perplexed, though not
in despair ; persecuted, but not forsaken ; cast down, but not
destroyed.
W. M. LOWRIE.
CHAPTER X.
LETTERS FROM MISSIONARIES, AND OTHERS, ON THE DEATH AND CHARACTER
OF THE REV. W. W. LOWRIE.
From the Rev. A. W. Looniis, of the Nlngpo Mission.
Ningpo, August 25th, 1847.
Walter Lowrie, Esq, —
Honored and Very Dear Sir: — It has become my painful
duty to act on this occasion as the bearer of mournful tidings, and
may you, my dear sir, and your family be enabled to say, " It is
the Lord, let him do as seemeth him good." I need not attempt
to hide anything from you : for your God, who has enabled you
cheerfully to consecrate one after another of your dear children to
his service here below, will enable you submissively to resign them
when they are called to his service above. I trust you will be able
to say, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away : blessed
be the name of the Lord."
Our brother, Walter M. Lowrie, whom we loved, is no more, for
God has taken him. We have confidence that our loss is his un-
speakable gain. The stroke has fallen heavily upon us, yet He
who loved him infinitely more than we could, saw fit to take him
to himself.
The news of this melancholy event reached here yesterday,
brought by Mr. Lowrie's long tried and faithful servant, and by
another Chinaman in the employment of the mission. [Mr. Loo-
mis then mentions that this man had been sent from Ningpo to
Shanghai, where Mr. Lowrie was attending the Convention for the
revised translation of the New Testament, requesting his return to
the station at Ningpo, with reference to certain occurrences at that
station.] Mr. Lowrie, with these two attendants, set out from
Shanghai on Monday, August IGtIi, by the canal to Chapoo.
They arrived, all well, at Chapoo, on the morning of the 18th.
A boat was engaged, one of the regular passenger boats, and on
the evening of tlic 18th all went on board with their baggage, to
be in readiness for an early departure next morning. During the
day of the 18th inst., he had been about through the city with-
out anything unpleasant having occurred in his treatment by the
Chinese. On the morning of the 19th, the boat in which they
LETTER OP THE REV. A. W. LOOM IS. 457
had taken passage set sail very early. The wind was unfavor-
able, being- strong from the south. Accordingly it was necessary
to beat, and the boat sailed, as is supposed, about twelve miles in
a south-easterly direction ; when suddenly a vessel was seen bear-
ing down upon them very rapidly. It was a craft like those which
belong to Cliapoo, with three masts and eight oars. At the sight
of this vessel the boatmen and other Chinamen (passengers) in the
boat, were greatl}- terrified, and were for turning back, but Mr.
Lowrie endeavored to allay their fears. As the^^ drew nearer, he
showed a small American flag which he had with him, but still
they came on, and soon discharged their firearms. Upon this, he
went to the inner part of the boat, having been previously stand-
ing in the open part of the boat in the bow. When the pirates
came, they boarded the boat with swords and spears, and began
to thrust and beat all who stood in their way; especially they
seemed to seek out and maim the sailors, or the strong and able-
bodied, to put an end to their interference. All agree in stating that
they did not see a single blow inflicted upon Mr. Lowrie. He is
said to have seated himself on a chair or box, and remained qui-
etly ; and when they were breaking open a trunk with their heavy
spears, he took out the key and gave it to them, saying, " There
is no need to break it open, here is the key." The pirates con-
tinued their work of plunder, breaking open everything and taking
out such things as they wished, and stripping even the clothes
from the Chinamen. Yet they did not touch anything that was
on him ; even his watch, and perhaps seven or eight dollars
that were in his pocket, they did not take. They stripped and
beat his servant, which he requested them to stop, as the poor
man was sick. Being probably unable to stay and witness such
cruelty, he then went out and sat on the bow of the boat.
Before they had finished plundering, something seemed to have
awakened a fear in the minds of the pirates, lest when he reached
Shanghai they would be reported to the authorities, whereupon
they debated for a moment whether they would kill him or throw
him alive into the sea. They hastily determined upon the latter,
and two men seized him; and they being unable to elfect their
purpose, another came up, and he was thrown overboard. One
of the boatmen, who was near to him during his last moments,
states that while the j)irates v,-ere ransacking the boat, he was en-
gaged in reading his poclcet Bible, and when they seized him on
deck, he had it still in his hand. As they were in the act of cast-
ing liim into the sea, he turned hiniself partially around, and
threw his Bible upon the deck.* He had also the presence of
mind, as he was going overboard, to throw off his shoes, and he
swam about for some time in the water. He was seen to turn
* Thi? Bililo was afterwards found and taken to Ningpo. It is a copy of Bagster's
12mo. edition in IIf:l)re\v, Grcrl;, an(t English. It is the same copy he preserved with
so much diiliculty and care in his shipwreck in the Harmony.
458 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
several times, as if he would struggle towards the boat ; but as
one of the pirates stood with a long pole, having an iron hook at
the end, in his hands, ready to strike him when he approached,
he desisted, and soon sank. Such has been the sad end of our
dear brother. . . .
I will not add to j'our distress by alluding to the deep gloom
caused by this most melancholy news. May our- Lord remember
us in this bereavement. May his parents and relatives be able to
say, " Though he slay me yet will I trust in him."
' With much respect,
I am yours in the Lord,
A. W. LooMis.
From the Right Rev. W. J. Boone, D. Z>., of the Protestant
Ejiiscopal Mission at Shanghai.
Shanghai, August 31st, 1847.
Walter Lowrie, Esq : —
My Dear Sir: — I cannot resist the strong impulse of my
heart to commune with you, and to mingle my sorrows and tears
with yours at this time. Our merciful and loving heavenly Fa-
ther has seen good, in his infinite wisdom, to afflict us all in a
very tender point. To you especially, my dear sir, he has sent a
very heavy trial. May his grace be abundantly bestowed to en-
able you to bear it with entire submission to his will. Indeed, my
dear sir, he is too wise to err : too good to do what is unkind.
In his infinite wisdom it has seemed good to him to take to
himself your beloved Walter ; and that, too, under circumstances
which have wrung our hearts with anguish. My heart's prayer
for you is, that when you hear the sad story, you may be enabled
to say with the aged Eli, " It is the Lord ; let him do whatsoever
seemeth to him good."
He has done so, and, in this case, not in wrath, but in mercy
and in loving kindness. He has removed your dear son from his
vineyard on earth to a nobler service in his sanctuary above.
His work w'as done. The time of his removal arrived, and the
circumstances thereof I am persuaded were ordered for the benefit
of us who survive, rather than for anything to be eflfected thereby
on our dear brother himself.
You will no doubt receive full particulars from your brethren
at Ningpo, but lest their letters may not reach you by this over-
land mail, I will mention them. You are aware that he was at
Shanghai as a member of the translating committee. On Satur-
day, the 14th August, he received a letter from his brethren at
Ningpo, requesting him to join them immediately. [Dr. Boone
here relates the particulars of this melancholy event, as given in
the letter of Mr. Loomis.] . . . His servant escaped to Ningpo, and
communicated these particulars, which we devoutly thank God
LETTER OF THE RIGHT REV. \V. J. BOONE, D. D. 459
he has permitted to reach us, so that we hear of him to the last
moment, and that these violent men did not mangle his body.
Oh, my dear brother, I feel that these are sad tidings to write
to an affectionate father of a son, and of such a son ; but for our
consolation we can surely say that the finger of God was never
more manifest in the removal of any of his servants than in this
case. To my mind, the very sligJituess of the secondary causes
upon which his life and death seemed to turn, manifest the clear-
ness of the Divine Decree to lake him to his Heavenly Home.
This event has thrown my family, who had the privilege to en-
joy his company for the last two months and a half of his earthly
existence, into the deepest affliction. Dearly as I know he was
beloved b}^ the mission with which he was connected, yet I be-
lieve no one in China mourns his loss as I do. We were together
daily for two months and a half, laboring together in what we
both believed to be the most important matter connected with
our Master's cause in China, with which we had ever been con-
nected.
Circumstances occurred when he was under my roof which
drew our hearts very closely together, and which now, as I look
back upon them after what has just transpired, I cannot but re-
gard as a merciful preparation to him for his sudden death.
Whilst he was with me I was twice threatened with attacks of
the brain, which I thought w^ould prove fatal in a few days. On
these occasions we had much conversation on the subject of a sud-
den summons, and how a Christian should live and feel in view
of such an event. The person whose call was supposed to be
near at hand was myself AVe never dreamt that he was so near
the confines of eternity ; but he entered into the subject with me
with all his heart. Never have I heard any one converse, who
had a more delightful state of child-like simplicity of heart in re-
lying upon the Saviour. I remember particularly our conversa-
tion, when we were silting alone one moonlight night, upon my
terrace. We were speaking of the case of a man removed from
his field of labor in the prime of early manhood, when he gave
promise of daily increasing usefulness. His train of thought was
striking, and much impressed my mind ; it was intended for con-
solation to me. God grant it may prove so to you, my dear sir,
when you read it. He said he could not view this matter as most
Christians seemed to do. He could not call it mysterious, pecu-
liarli/ distressing, as was commonly done. On the contrary, to
his mind, there was something pecidiarly cheering to survivors la
such a death. In the case of an old man, lie was removed in the
common course of events. Even to our eyes his work was done.
But not so with the case of which he was speaking. The pecu-
liarity of it was, that there was promise of much more to be done
liere for the glory of Christ. This world, however, we may be
well assured, is but the first stage of our existence : God's children
are employed in services infinitely more glorious, and that con-
460 MEMOIR OF AVALTER M. LOVv^RIE.
duce much more to the glory of his Holy name, in the sanctuary
above, than any employments entrusted to them on earth. Should
we not then, said he, use tlieir early manhood, their manifest ca-
pacity, for usefulness in the vineyard here below, — indeed, every
arguuient which can be pleaded, derived from their prospective
usefulness to the Church on earth, to assure ourselves that God
has called them to a more than common post of usefulness in the
Church triumphant. His modesty and deep humility would have
prevented his applying this to his own death, but from my heart I
adopt it as the true interpretation of our Heavenly Father's deal-
ing with him and with his cause in China in this instance.
If this be the true view of the case, most cheering indeed is
the assurance it alfords us of his present happy state and glorious
position.
No one in China promised to do more for the cause of our Di-
vine master than he. Just brought out by his brethren's choice
to a participation in the work of revising the translation of the
Scriptures, this call upon him was having the happiest effect in
overcoming his disposition to modest retirement, and making him
feel the necessity that was laid upon him, to take a more promi-
nent stand among those whose attainments in the language quali-
lied them to participate in all of a general character that was
doing to advance the Saviour's cause. In the unhappy division
of opinion which exists with respect to the proper word by which
to render TJieo^ [God] lie took a prominent part in the discussion,
and wrote on this subject one of the ablest articles that appeared
in the Chinese Repository.
He was daily growing in power, and the field of usefulness was
continually opening wider and wider before hiin ; but God had
work for him above this vale of tears, and now leaves us mourn-
ing and sorrowing, to do the great work without his aid. O, that
by the Spirit's giacioas influences he may more than supply this
loss to us, and that the work, for which our beloved brother was
laboring with all his powers when he was taken away, may be so
accomplished that his own most Holy name may be glorified
thereby.
We had promised each other, tliat if my life was spared, we
would labor much togetlier to set the plain doctrines of the cross,
by lueans of tracts, before this people ; but, alas ! he is not, for
God has taken him.
May we not suppose that the object of our gracious Saviour, in
giving us, in addition to the general promise of the resurrection
of all at the last day, the special assurance that " the sea shall
give up its dead," is to assuage the grief of those who have been
bereaved as you are, and whose precious ones lie buried in the
deep.
Believe me, my dear sir, very sincerely yours, in the hope of a
common resurrection with our beloved brother,
Wm. J. BooNE,
LETTER OF THE REV. W. SPEER. 461
From the Rev. W. Speer, of the Canton Mission.
Canton^ September 25t.h, 1847.
My Dear Mr. and Mrs. Lowrie —
By this mail you will receive intelligence of an event which
has bowed the hearts of the little company of brethren here with
the deepest sorrow. How may we expect it to affect the parents
of one so worthy of their love, and doubly endeared by his sacri-
fices of home and the advantages of a Christian country for his
duty to Christ.
To the Lord, my dear friends, you gave your son, to be dis-
jiosed of entirely for His glory. It was a contract in which there
was no proviso for long life or any other particular favor; but a.
whole consecration of your most precious gift, your own child, to
live, to toil, to die, in such way and time as God should decree in
the exercise of infinite wisdom and benevolence to our race. I
have been made myself deepl}'' to feel that, in the great moral
government of the Almighty, sacrifices of life or happiness or
property of individuals are small matters, compared to the divine
schemes for the everlasting salvation of multitudes, and finally of
our whole race. Kings, even, and the interests of empires are as
"small dust." The dreamy hopes, joys, and sorrows of this pre-
paratory existence will sink into the utmost littleness, when be-
held from the midst of the glorious and vast mansions whose
doors are yet unopened to us.
Your departed son was, you will allow me to say, one of the
ornaments of our branch of the Church, one^of the missionaries
most dear to its heart, and whose labors and writings had at-
tracted most attention and interest. To our mission in China his
loss is at present irreparable. His mind was cultivated ; his aims
truly noble. He gave promise of the largest usefulness. My
former personal friend and College-mate, residing in the same
house, and members of the same Literary Society, I had become
much attached to him and honored his character. I feel in my
heart the greatness of the loss. He had written to me twice,
within the short time I have been here, letters full of affection
and piety. I can realize in some measure how severe will be
the blow to you, his parents. I can only point you, my loved,
respected friends, to the same source of consolation that I have
found under afflictions that almost crush the heart. My all is
gone ; a wife whose tender and patient love for me, and whose
many virtues, my pen cannot express ; my lovely infant daughter,
just putting on the sweet smiles of intelligence and affection ;
and I am left alone. But I feel that they are taken by God.
They are in heaven, really, now, in heaven ; and very happy.
They were removed also to make me more holy : and above all
in the accomplishment of His unsearchable plans for the re-
demption of the heathen, which are beyond my comprehension,
462 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
but which I " shall know hereafter." The sources of consolation
to you are the same. It is my fervent prayer that God would
mercifully sanctify them to your comfort.
I desne to present my most affectionate regards to Mrs. liowrie,
the memory of whose kindness to Mrs. Speer and myself is grate-
ful, and to whom I ought before this to have written particu-
larly. ...
I remain, with sincere affection and respect,
Yours in the work of the Lord Jesus,
William Speer.
RESOLUTIONS OF THE CANTON MISSION.
Whereas, We have heard with the deepest sorrow of the death
of our beloved brother, the Rev. Walter M. Lowrie, of the Ningpo
Mission ; and whereas, it has pleased an infinitely wise and
gracious Providence to remove one who was so much beloved and
esteemed, and who was so well qualified by his eminent talents,
his ripe scholarship, sound judgment, and devoted piety, to be
eminently useful, and an efiicient laborer in this great field :
therefore.
Resolved as follows, viz.,
1. That while with deep humiliation and resignation we ac-
knowledge the hand of God, and say, O Lord, " thy will be done,"
yet we do deeply deplore the death of our dear brother as a great
loss to our missions in China ; as a great loss to the cause of God
here where the harvest is so great, and the laborers so few; and
as a great loss to the Church, of which he was an able and faith-
ful minister.
2. That we will affectionately cherish the memory of our de-
parted brother, his services, his worth, his devotedness and zeal ;
and that we thank God for the precious memorial of faith and
patience he has left us.
' 3. That whilst our hearts are deeply pained that he should
liave perished by the hands of violent men, yet we rejoice in the
assurance, '• blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from hence-
forth, yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors,
and their works do follow them."
4. That we present to the respected and esteemed father and
family of our beloved brother our tenderest sympathy in this
heavy aflliction ; and assure them of our constant and fervent
prayers that abundant grace may be given to support and com-
fort them under this trying bereavement.
5. That to our beloved brethren of the Ningpo Mission we
express our deep sympathy and condolence in the severe afflic-
tions through which they have been called to pass ; and assure
them of our constant and earnest prayers in their behalf; that
God would mercifully and graciously guide and support them.
LETTER OF THE REV. JOHN LLOYD. 463
and cause all these things to work together for their own good and
the furtherance of the gospel.
From the Rev. John Lloyd^ of the Amoy Mission*
Amoy^ September 17th, 1847.
Walter Lowrie, Esa. —
My Dear Mr. Lowrie : — Yesterday I received the sad, the
very sad intelligence of Walter's death. T need not tell you how
much I was affected by this afflictive event. Walter was very
dear to me. I loved him with a brother's love. He was my
dearest earthly friend. We were born into God's glorious family
about the same time. We entered the church on the same day. We
formed the resolution of devoting ourselves to the work of foreign
missions about the same time. We often took sweet counsel to-
gether, and walked to the house of God. We often talked together
of God's kind dealings with us. We often spoke of our hopes. I
recollect one instance of this kind which occurred at Jefferson Col-
lege. We went out into the groves to commune with each other,
and as we talked by the way, our hearts did burn within us. Wal-
ter often alluded to this walk and talk in the groves of Canonsburgh
in his letters, and spoke of it as an antepast of the joys of heaven.
All this intimacy with him while we were in college gave me op-
portunities of learning his worth. I knew his inward mind on those
subjects which were nearest and dearest to hia heart, and I can
most freely say that the more I knew him the more I loved him.
After Walter left college, I saw no more of him till I met him
in Macao, in October, 1844. In the providence of God our meet-
ing was of short duration. I soon left that place for Amoy. What
I saw of him there, gave me higher notions of his piety, of his
sound judgment, and of his intellectual character, than ever I
entertained before. My love and admiration could not but be
increased. I heard him preach and address religious meetings
only two or three times. He was very solemn, and his solemnity
was contagious, if I may use the expression. It possessed the
rare quality of radiating from its centre, and entering the hearts
of all around. Hence his discourses, which were plain and prac-
tical, always took hold of the feelings as well as the intellect.
One never wearied listenmg to them, and one always left the
meeting feeling that he had received both instruction and spiritual
benefit from what he had heard.
My dear Mr. Lowrie, it is not my intention to write an eulogy
upon Walter; but I cannot but feel that you, and I, and the Church
of God have sustained a very great loss. This loss more nearly
* This able and beloved Missionary has also finished the work which his Master had
for him to do in China. He died at Amoy. of typhus fever, on the 6th day of Decem-
ber, 1848. Thus after a short interval, these two friends met, as we trust, in the pres-
ence of the Saviour, to be separated no more forever.
464 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
concerns you, and though I cannot fully appreciate a parent's
tender feelings and yearnings in behalf of his beloved offspring,
yet I can realize in some degree the depth of that grief which the
news of this severe affliction will produce in your mind. I most
deeply sympathize with you. My heart Weeds for you. I feel
totally unfitted to administer consolation. The blow is too heavy
to admit of alleviation by anything that 1 can say. 1 can but
weep with you over the loss sustained. But, though I cannot
afford relief to your mind in this season of sorrowful bereavement,
yet there is one who sympathizes with you, and who is fully able
to console you in this hour of heavy affliction. That Jesus, whom
Walter loved, knows the depth of your grief. He knew it before
the sad event occurred. He has consolation for all the sons and
daughters of alHiction. He is a tender comforter. The bruised
reed will he not break, the smoking flax will he not quench. To
him you can go with all confidence. He is waiting to hear your
cries. What a privilege God's dear children possess !
When God afflicts them, he does it as a tender, loving parent —
he does it for their good. This afiiiction is for our good. I feel it
to be intended for my good. I hatl wrong views in relation to
God's work in China ; I almost fell that it could not go forward .
without Walter. I felt that we must have him to control and
counsel us, to nmnage our operations, to rebuke us when wrong,
to encourage us when right. I felt that we needed him to oversee
the press, to prepare tracts, to assist in revising the Scriptures. I
knew that God had endov/ed him with a noble intellect, had given
a sound judgment, had bestowed upon him much grace, and had
eminently fitted him for a high station in this great harvest field.
I knew all this, and felt that we could not spare him. But God's
thoughts and ways are not as ours. He has taught me that he
can do without us, even the best of us. He has no need of our
poor assistance. When he sees fit, he calls us to himself. He
has called Walter thus. Yv^e idolized him. God has rebuked us.
But he has taken Walter to himself. This is my consolation. I
have no doubts on this point. I feel as sure as I can on any sub-
ject based on moral evidence, of the safety of Walter. He is
happy beyond conception. We mourn his loss and feel our spirits
depressed, but he is beyond the influence of sorrow's pains. Wal-
ter wrote me not long ago a letter, in which he spoke freely of his
feelings. He was mourning over inbred corruption, and found all
his hope in Christ. 1 thought for a moment of sending this letter
to you, but what need is there for this? You have many letters
from him, the spirit and sentiment of which leave your own mind
free from all doubt as to Walter's personal interest in the blood of
the precious Saviour.
I love to think of Walter. Many of the sweetest spots of my
existence teem with delightful recollections of him. It may seem
strange but it is true, that the thought of being saved with Wal-
ter and dwelling with him forever in heaven, has often filled my
LETTER OF THE REV. T. L. M'bRYDE. 465
soul with peculiar emotions of joyful satisfaction, and has aroused
into life a sweeter affection for the blessed Saviour, who was
pleased to give nie a title to the same inheritance which he has
conferred on him. Walter has already entered upon the enjoy-
ment of that inheritance, and is now employed with the patriarchs
and prophets, witli the apostles and martyrs, and with the General
Ass^embly of the first born in heaven, sounding the high praises of
him who loved him and washed him in his own blood, and made
him a king and a priest unto God and his father. He was ripe
for the kingdom and his work was done, and so God took him to
himself, and now employs him in the upper sanctuary in a higher
and holier service.
Would that I could fill up the void which this sad bereavement
will make in your parental heart ! But I have hopes that God
will sustain you. He enabled you to give up Walter with cheer-
fulness to the work of Missions. He enabled you to bear up under
the distress of a long separation. Surely he will not now forsake
you in this the extremity of your grief! I trust you- will feel
that the cause of missions still needs your aid ; that the Church
has work for you still to do ; and especially that God, by this dark
and mysterious dispensation of his providence, is preparing you
for more self-denying labors in the station which he has called
you to occupy. God may intend by this event to accomplish more
for that cause which Walter so dearly loved, than (speaking
humanly,) could have been accomplished by him if he had been
spared many years. Of one thing we are sure, God does nothing
wrong. He brings good out of evil ; all his ways and all his deal-
ings with the children of men are right and holy. May we there-
fore be submissive; may we bow and kiss the rod and him that
hath appointed it; may the blessed Spirit save us from all mur-
muring on account of his dispensations ; may he give us meek
and lowly minds ; may he sanctify to us all his heavy afflictions,
and may he make them work out for us a far more exceeding
and eternal weight of glory ! May the God of grace sustain you.
Yours with all sympathy, John Lloyd.
From the Rev. Thomas L. McBryde, of the Amoy Mission.
Lowndesville, S. C, February 1st, 1848.
Rev. John C. Lowrie —
My Dear Brother : — I wish to commingle my sorrows with
yours and those of your father and the family, on account of the
deep affliction that has been sent upon you, and not only upon you,
but upon the whole Church. As one who loves the cause of mis-
sions, I feel it deeply ; for this cause has received a heavy stroke
indeed. I have ever looked upon our departed brother as one of
the pillars of the China mission, and ni}'^ hopes were that he would
be long spared, with his eminent qualifications for such a work.
30
466 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
But our trust is in God. If we can only, as ministers and as
Christians, improve this event, as our venerable father. Dr. Alex-
ander, exhorts us to do in the last number of the Chronicle, it will
redound to the greatest good of missions, and the glory of our
blessed Lord. The faith and zeal of the Church has not been
what they ought to have been, else God would not thus chastise
her. She needs such trials to bring her up to that standard wl^ich
is required of her in God's word. But I need not comment on
this subject.
This event has not only afflicted me as a lover of that cause
from which our brother has been taken away, but I am afflicted
as a friend, I might say as a relative, for he was very nearly re-
lated to me, much nearer than the common ties of birth and blood.
He had a place in my heart, and in the heart of my dear compan-
ion too, which few others have. We loved him like a brother and
a sister. And well might we love him ; for he was with us in our
sorrows, and helped to dry up those tears which were wont to
flow so freely in yonder distant land, when sunk by disease, and
pressed down by the still heavier weight of being compelled to
leave the field of our early and ardent choice. The sympathy
and the counsel of our dear Walter under such circumstances, can
never be forgotten. But we shall meet again, and
" There, on a green and flowery mount,
Our weary souis shall sit ;
And with transporting joys recount
The labors of our feet."
Yes, dear brother, I expect to meet him there, and you too ; let
us, then, be up and doing. Excuse me for breaking up the foun-
tain of grief once more : it is by no means dried up in my bosom.
Ever since the reception of this mournful intelligence, the boat
and the scene have been almost perpetually before my mind.
And since this intelligence came, I have received a letter from oar
brother, dated Shanghai, July 20 — I suppose one of the last letters
he ever wrote. It contains nothing more than his usual friendly,
cheerful letters do, else 1 would send it to you.
Yours most sincerely,
Thos. L. McBryde.
From the Rev. Thomas McClaichie, Missionary of the Church
Missionary Society.
Shanghai, November 20th, 1847.
Walter Lowrie, Esa. —
My Dear Sir: — The accompanying volume has been for-
warded to me to be given to your son. as a token of esteem and
friendship. Mr. Smith and I arrived in China about three years
ago, from the Church Missionary Society. Shortly after our ar-
rival, we formed an acquaintance with your son, whose amiable
LETTERS OF REV. MESSRS. m'cLATCHIE AND SYLE. 467
qualities and Christian character commanded the respect and
esteem of all who knew him. Mr. S. has been obliged to return
home in consequence of ill health, and having published a work
on China, he sent me some copies to be distributed here as pres-
ents to his friends, and amongst others one for our dear deceased
brother. A brother truly he was in every respect to those who
knew him, and who cultivated so desirable a friendship as his.
His consistent Christian walk while amongst us, when called to
remembrance, assures us beyond the possibility of doubt, that
he has gone to that glorious abode where his Saviour Christ hath
gone before him. May we who survive him, be enabled to follow
in his footsteps as he followed Jesus !
But not only had our dear brother gained the esteem and love
of the members of the foreign community, who had the privilege
of being acquainted with him, but he also established for himself
a high character amongst those poor heathen who were the espe-
cial objects of his ministrations. I accidentally met with a lad
the other day, who had but a short time ago arrived here from
Ningpo. In alluding to our dear friend, he said, " Ah ! he was
an excellent man." We have also suffered a severe loss indeed,
in a literary point of view, in his removal from amongst us. He
was a good Chinese scholar, and, in a late essay which appeared
in the Chinese Repository, he threw much light upon a most mo-
mentous question, now under discussion amongst the missionaries.
As he is now taken to that rest which is his, as one of the peo-
ple of God, I beg leave to present you with the accompanying vol-
ume, which will perhaps sometimes ca.ll to mind the esteem and
love which we all felt for him who is not lost to us, but only ^^ gone
before.''''
Believe me, my dear sir, truly sympathizing with you in your
irreparable loss,
Yours most sincerely, Thomas McClatchie.
From the Rev. E. W. Syle, Missionary of the Protestant Epis-
copal Chnrch.
Shanghai, China, September 20th, 1847.
My Dear Sir —
Knowing that Bishop Boone had written to you immediately
after we were made acquainted with the bereavement which falls
so heavily upon us all, but heaviest on you, I have delayed the
offering of my small mite of consolation, until I should have an
opportunity of sending you what, I suppose, will be to his family
an interesting memento of your early, but not prematurely sum-
moned son, Walter. It is a copy of the inscription on a large stone
tablet, which stands close by the wall of an old Romish Cliapel in
our immediate neighborhood ; and also, of the epitaphs on the tomb-
stones of six priests, who lie buried at the rear of the house.
468 MEMOIR OP WALTER M. LOWRIE.
During his sojourn at Bishop Boone's, I was his conductor in a
number of short excursions, made for the purpose of seeing what-
ever objects of interest lay in our immediate neighborhood. One
of these excursions was to the old, half-ruined chapel above men-
tioned ; and at the time, our lamented brother requested me to
send a copyist to the place, and direct him to transcribe the in-
scriptions for him.
I send the first, rather than the later copy, thinking that un-
der the circumstances I have mentioned, it would have an especial
value in your eyes.
Many were the brief morning visits which I paid to your son's
little study while he was with us, and many are the remarks made
by him on those occasions, which now come back upon my mind
witii a weight which they seemed to lack at the time I heard
them, because of the gentleness of manner and modulation of lan-
guage with which they were expressed. . . .
Knowing that he had given the subject of tlie Millennium much
attention, 1 asked him to come over one evening and make me ac-
quainted with the views he had adopted. He came accordingly, bring-
ing with him the well-worn Bible, with the pages of which he was so
familiar, and we spent two or three hours of, to me, most interesting
intercourse, and comparison of Scripture with Scripture, bearing on
the question of the speedy coming of the Millennial period and reign
of Christ. I cannot say that I was led to adopt his views ; but I was
much impressed with the illustration afforded by his own case, of
the elevating effects of the study of this subject. His entire free-
dom from asperity, the marked moderation of his views, his sober-
mindedness, and the greater readiness with which he took the
spiritual, rather than the intellectual or ecclesiastical view of any
subject — all these excellencies (and they were peculiarly his) were,
I am sure, greatly fostered by his dwelling, as it were, among the
" goodly fellowship of the Prophets," and by his daily habit of look-
ing for those great things which, as he expected, were soon coming
on the earth. From the earthly realization of these expectations
he has been taken away ; but doubtless he now understands better
than any of us the things that shall be hereafter.
I often found him writing, and have heard him remark that he
supposed he had averaged four pages of writing a day since he had
been in China. He advised me to pay a good deal of attention to
the children of Sunday Schools at home, and to send them letters
as often as I could. He seemed to feel little hope of interesting
those in the Church, who had grown up in the habit of not caring
for the work of making the Gospel known to all the inhabitants
of the earth.
I must now close my letter. In doing so I hope I need not
apologize for not having said more in the way of consolation than
I have done. Be assured that it is with the sincerest sympathy
Mrs. Syle and myself offer our condolences to yourself and your
family. Other, and far better comfort than we can offer will, we
LETTER OF THE REV. JOSEPH OWEN. 469
know, be vouchsafed to you. We have httle fear that this dispen-
sation of Providence will have the effect of dampening your zeal
or discouraging your hopes in the work of missions ; and our
prayer is that others may not read amiss the meaning of this be-
reavement.
Believe me to be, my dear sir,
With much respect and affection,
Yours in the Lord, E. W. Syle.
From the Rev. Joseph Owen, of the Allahabad Mission.
Allahabad, November 19th, 1847.
My Dear Mr. Lowrie —
We have just received from China the distressing news of
your beloved son's death, and there is in the Mission a deep
and universal feeling of sorrow and sympathy, which I have
been requested on their behalf, to express to you. Some of
us knew your dear son personally, and are thus in some meas-
ure prepared to appreciate the loss to you and all your family
and friends, caused by his death. We all knew him, through the
Missionary Chronicle, as a faithful ambassador for Christ, in perils
often, perils of water, perils of robbers, suffering shipwreck, and
spending nigiits and days on the deep. I had the privilege of
knowing him as a beloved fellow-student, and. since we have been
in the eastern world, as a dear friend and correspondent. Four
days ago, on the 15th inst., I received from him a letter, dated
Shanghai, Aug. 8th, where he was attending a Convention for the
revision of the New Testament in Chinese. He wished an an-
swer by return mail, to some inquiries respecting the terms we
use in the India dialects to represent the Supreme Being, and
wrote in good health, and encouraged with his prospects of use-
fulness. On the envelope I found with sad surprise, the following
lines from Brother Happer, dated Canton, Sept. 21st. " You will
excuse my opening this envelope to inform you of the lamented
death of the beloved writer of this note. He was murdered by
pirates, when returning from Shanghai to Ningpo, Aug. 19th,
near Chapoo. They threw him into the sea, and he was drowned.
All our Missions are in deep grief. Our ablest and best man has
fallen." These sad tidings were confirmed the next day by the
Friend of India, in which we found an extract from the China
Mail of September, which I have had copied, and will send to you
with this. You will no doubt have heard directly from China
before this reaches you, yet every scrap of intelligence on the sub-
ject will be valued by you, and therefore I send you all that we have
This is indeed a mysterious dispensation of Divine Providence.
Truly God's ways are not as our ways, nor his thoughts as our
thoughts. Dear Walter was qualified in no ordinary degree for the
great work in which he was engaged. His excellent scholarship,
470 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
ripe judgment, extensive and matured knowledge of Ciiina, the
deep foundation wliicli he had laid in its difficult language, and
above all his unwavering and ardent love to the Redeemer and his
Church, prepared him to be very extensively useful in that im-
mense field. But God has again shown us, that the excellency
of the power in the great work of the world's conversion, is to be,
not of us, but of Him, and given another illustration of that great
truth, " Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit." I feel
that another tie to earth is broken. I loved Walter most sincerely,
and have known and loved him ever since he was nineteen years
old. Many of our pleasant interviews I shall never forget, and
I trust we shall with delight converse about them hereafter. In
particular, I remember the kind visit he paid me, at my father's, a
short time before I left America. We took a long ramble together
in the fields, enjoying the sweet fresh air of spring, part of the time
on the winding, beautiful banks of the Croton, and conversing of
our future prospects. His heart was then towards Africa, but sub-
sequently God directed him to that glorious field in which he has
now fallen. His usefulness, however, has not terminated with his
sojourn on earth. His name is precious, not only to those who in-
timately knew him, but it must be to thousands. His career was
short, but very eventful. He was called not only to do, but to
suffer much for the I^ord Jesus, and he did it as a good soldier,
falling eventually as a leader in one of the foremost ranks. A
breach has been made by his fall, not easily filled. God grant
that his example of labor and patience, of zeal and wisdom, of
faith and love, may call forth many dear youth from our Ameri-
can Zion, to count not their lives dear to themselves in publishing
the glorious gospel to the land of Sinim. He has been removed
from a lower to a higher sphere of service. Though he rests
from his labors, yet he is not inactive. But we see through a
glass darkly. We know little, and in our present state are capable
of knowing but little, of the glorious service in which he has
joined the redeemed around the throne. The dark, fearful billows
that closed above him as he sank into the sea could not contain
his spirit. In a few minutes his ransomed soul was with the
blessed Redeemer, forever beyond the violence of earth and of hell.
And if the kind, considerate authorities at Ningpo should not suc-
ceed in recovering his remains, it will matter little after a while ; the
day will soon come when the sea shall give up its dead, when the
members of Christ's body scattered throughout its immense, dismal
caverns shall all be recovered, brought and joined to their Head,
and forever made like to his glorious body. We may be sure that
the Omniscient and Omnipotent Saviour will not allow one particle
of his purchased possession to be lost. We iiope soon to be with
him in the midst of the glorified throng. We are repeatedly and
emphatically reminded that the fasljion of this world passeth away.
The tidings that you conveyed to me a little more than two
months ago, w^ere some of the most painful that I ever received.
LETTER OF THE REV. JOHN WRAY. 471
I was looking forward with very great happiness to having my
own dear brother witli me here. But the disappointment, with
the ahiiost certain prospect of his speedy death, is a deep afflic-
tion. I bless God who has not allowed a murmuring thought to
arise in my heart. He knows what is best for his Church, infi-
nitely better than we do, and the multitude of his ransomed ones
in India and China, shall surely be brought home, though we and
all others now on the field should fall. God is trying his Church by
terrible things in righteousness. He has taken to himself some of
our most useful fellow-missionaries of late. On the 19th of Aug.
your son ; on the 1st of Sept. the Rev. J. Macdonald of the Free
Church Mission, Calcutta, a very holy, useful man ; on the 7th
of Sept. Mrs. Hill, who had been for twenty years a faithful mis-
sionary at Berhampore ; and not long ago Mr. Whittlesey, a very
useful missionary of the American Board, died in Ceylon. Other
useful laborers are obliged to leave the field, as dear Brother Ran-
kin, and Mrs. Scott. And others God is keeping from coming.
Ought not the Church to think of these things ? These are loud
calls to us here, to the Committee at home, to the ministers and
elders, to the sons of the prophets, to every individual in the
Church, to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, that
in due time he may lift us up. Trusting, my dear friend, that
God will sustain you and all your family under the atHictive stroke
of his holy providence of which you are soon to hear, and assuring
you that this is the united prayer of us all, 1 remain as ever
Yours affectionately,
Joseph Owen.
Pi'om the Rev. John Wray, of the Allahabad Mission.
Allahabad, November 18th, 1847.
My Dear Mr. Lowrie —
It is with the most sincere and heartfelt sorrow, that I take up
my pen on the present occasion. The recent melancholy news
from China is calculated to call forth our sympathy on your be-
half, and that of the different members of your family.
Although you will receive a letter from our mission through
brother J. Owen, expressing our united sympathy, I cannot deny
m3'self the privilege of expressing my feelings, when one who
stands in so near a relation to us is suffering under an unusually
severe and trying bereavement. It was my privilege to be a fel-
low-student with your son in the Theological Seminary at Prince-
ton. I often met with him at our missionary conferences ; well
do I remember the spirit witli which he entered into every subject
connected with foreign mission operations. AVe all then felt, that
our dear brother possessed those qualifications which would make
him an eminently useful missionary, in any part of the mission
field ; but more especially in China, where natural talents, energy,
472 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
and perseverance were essentially necessar3^ We were not dis-
appointed in the estimate we had then formed of his qualifica-
tions. From time to time, I have read his valuable contributions
in the Missionary Chronicle, with no ordinary degree of pleasure
and profit, for his pieces seemed to possess the rare quality of im-
parting at the same time edification and pleasure.
It has pleased the Master whom we serve to bring to a speedy
termination the labors of our dear brother. Painful and distress-
ing as has been the way in which he has been taken from his
family, the Church, and the heathen, among whom he labored so
successfully, there is this consolation, that he has been removed
from the toils and labors of the Church below to the enjoyment
of the unspeakable bliss of the Church above, forever to stand in
the presence of that Saviour, whom he so ardently loved and so
faithfully served on earth, the advancement of whose kingdom
and glory appeared to him as the only object worth living for.
No doubt the Lord will overrule this sad event to the advance-
ment of his own glory ; his purposes are often to us dark and
mysterious, but as nothing happens by chance in his government,
we may conclude, that either the Church in America, or the mis-
sionaries in the foreign fields, needed to be urged to a proper dis-
charge of their duty by some striking dispensation of his provi-
dence ; and surely the one under consideration speaks to the
Church, and to us missionaries, in a language not to be misunder-
stood or disregarded.
My dear and esteemed friend, may the Lord who has sent this
more than usually severe affliction on you and your family, with
the affliction bestow all needed grace, comfort, and consolation !
May the sympathizing Saviour pour abundantly into your
wounded hearts the consolations of his Gospel, which have ever
been found so refreshing to his tried and afflicted people. I may
add, that all the Lord's dear people at this station have expressed,
in the kindest manner, the deep interest they feel in your severe
affliction, and I am sure you will not be forgotten at a throne of
grace, by those who love the Saviour and his cause.
My dear wife unites with me in expressing our most sincere re-
gards to yourself, Mrs. Lowrie, the Rev. J. C. Lowrie, and the
other members of your deeply afflicted family.
Yours in much Christian affection,
John Wray.
From the Rev. Levi Janvier of the Lodiatia Mission.
Lodiana, January 17th, 1848.
My Dear Mr. Lowrie —
.... When I wrote last, I made no allusion to the agonizing
bereavement with which the Lord has seen fit to visit you; for I
wrote in much haste, and I felt that it was not a subject to be thus
LETTERS OF REV. MESSRS. JANVIER AND J. WILSON. 473
lightly touched ; but indeed I still feel that nothing which I can
say is adequate to the case. What can I say, except "the Lord
gave, and the Lord hath taken away." I referred to the matter in
writing to Mr. J. C. Lowrie, still hoping that the whole might
prove a rumor ; but there has been nothing to countenance such
a hope. I feel it a personal loss ; but wliat is my loss compared
with yours, and with that of the Church ! Dear sir, my mind
shrinks from 'the contemplation of the lamentable tragedy; but
still you know as well as I, that the beloved departed nuist be
viewed, not as the prey of ferocious men or bulFeting elements, but
as he is, the blessed tenant of a heavenly mansion, to which he
has been called before you, and where he awaits your arrival. By
what route he arrived there, is now to him a most unimportant
and secondary consideration; nay, a matter of complacency, and
a theme for praise. He was engaged in his '•'•Father^s business,"
and his Father permitted, yea, appointed the method of calling
him into his presence. And as for ourselves, faith must say, "It
is well." "It is the Lord," while to the flesh it is a dreadful blow.
Dear sir, you have my deepest sympathy, though I know full
well what a poor alleviation that is. But the consolations of God
are substantial ; they are "neither few nor small." May Hs sus-
tain you : He is able to do it.
Now, dear sir, with Mrs. Janvier's and my own affectionate re-
gards, I remain in Christian bonds,
Most sincerely yours,
L. Janvier.
From the Rev. James Wilson, of the Furrukhabad Mission.
Agra, February 20th, 1848.
My Dear Mr. Lowrie —
.... I have refrained for two months past from any allusion to
the afflicting intelligence from China, which you must have heard
before this time, from the feeling that I could not touch upon it,
without opening up afresh a Avound which was but too deep before.
I trust before this reaches you, you will have accustomed yourself
to look at the subject in that calm and mellowed light, whicli Chris-
tianity throws over those parts of Divine Providence, which ap-
pear dark and heavy in their bearing. The loss of a son who is
amiable, intelligent, and pious, is under any circumstances a heavy
affliction. But when in addition to all this, he was just becoming
thorougiily prepared for the performance of a work, which the Bi-
ble has taught us to believe of vast and immeasurable importafice,
the affliction is rendered more deep and poignant, by the dark, un-
fathomable character of the providence which accompanies it. I
trust you will be enabled to keep your mind in a position to say,
with the mother in Israel whose only son was cut down in his
youth, " It is well." " The Judge of all the earth" will do what is
474 MEMOIR OP WALTER M. LOWRIE.
well. How hard it is to learn, and how often it has to be re-Iearued,
that the Lord does not depend on, or choose his instrumentalities
for the accomplishment of his purposes, as we would choose them.
How often he, in his perfect knowledge of the subject, lays aside
or removes the very instrumentality, which we think the best
suited to accomplish an object of great importance. Tliis, I doubt
not, is the light in which nearly all of those most familiar with
the character of the work to be accomplished in China, will look
upon the removal of your son from that important field of benev-
olent enterprise. Yet the Lord will show in the end, that this was
the best means which he had of preparing others to perform the
work for whicli we thought him so well prepared. The Lord does
not undervalue talents and acquirements and fitness for the dis-
charge of important duties, but he often uses these in a way which
we thought not of, and for which we were not prepared. I sup-
pose the churches at home, and tlie Board, and the missionaries
abroad, were looking and trusting too nuich to the fitness of the
instrumentality. Tlie Lord selected that portion of the instru-
mentality which they thought the fittest, and removed it. May
he himself enable the churches, the Board, and the missionaries,
to make such improvement of the subject, as shall make them to
be a prepared instrumentality for the accomplishment of the pur-
poses of grace, which we have no liberty to doubt that he has tow-
ards the people of China. If this sad stroke be only the means
of leading the churches, the Board, and the missionaries, to a
deeper tone of piety, and a more humble dependence on Divine
wisdom for help and guidance and success, and to more earnest
prayer for these, then it will be seen in the end that your son is
not dead in vain. You have had many things connected with the
missionary enterprise to try your spirit. This last is of a deeper
tone than they all. Yet I have no doubt that you will in the
end, find that it has been the means of greater blessing to you
than any of them.
Eternity will throw a brightness around the subject, which our
dim-sightedness prevents us from seeing amid the clouds and dark-
ness of this world. Glimpses of that, you will be permitted to see
even in this world. But the full brightness which will beam upon
it when the curtain is removed, will be such as to remove from
your mind all regrets as to the premature and painful removal of
your son. The Lord will bring out the problem, both to your sur-
prise and satisfaction. Leave it then with him, till he brings out
the result.
I am yours with afTectionate regard,
James Wilson.
LETTER OF REV. MESSRS. RAMSEY AND LOUGHRIDGE. 475
From the Rev. James B. Ramsey, of the Choctaio Mission.
Spencer Academy, February 5tb, 1848.
Walter Lowrie, Esa. —
Dearest Sir: — Permit us to mingle our tears with yours on
account of the mournful intelligence from China. The paper
containing the intelligence had been lying for nearly a week on
the table unread, when, feeling unwell, I picked it up, and almost
the first thing that met my eye was the notice of your son's death.
It came indeed like a thunderstroke ; and it was not till 1 had re-
tired to another room, and returned, that I could speak of it to
Mrs. Ramsey. I knew him, and loved him, and cannot now
think of him but with tears. How, then, must his sudden death
pierce a father's heart! -When one of the members suffer, all
the members suffer with it." This we now deeply feel, and it is
to assure you of our sympathy and our prayers that I now write ;
not to comfort, for consolation must come from another source ;
and how to draw it thence, your long experience in the Christian
life, and of the Spirit's consolations, has doubtless fully taught
you. While your heart bleeds, as it must to a degree the stranger
knows not of, may the Spirit's consolations abound, and the bless-
ed Saviour's voice of love sweetly soothe and abundantly sustain
you !
We feel his loss to be a common one, and one which the Church
must deeply feel, more deeply in proportion as his worth was
known. But still, why should we speak of a loss ? The work in
which he was, and we are engaged, is carried on under the aus-
pices of a Leader who loves his cause and his people far better
than we, and who can make these things all instrumental in
hastening on the accomplishment of the great and glorious result.
'"The Lord reigneth ; let the earth rejoice." Surely, then, his
people may at all times rejoice in his dispensations, even when
clouds and darkness are round about them.
His work was quickly done, and the Master has taken him to
himself. We would feel it to be a loud call upon ourselves to give
all diligence to do our Master's work, as we may have but a short
time to honor our Saviour in.
Yours affectionately,
Jas. B. Ramsey.
From the Rev. R. M. Loughridge, of the Creek Mission.
Creek Mission, January 24th, 1848.
Walter Lowrie, Esa. —
My Dear Sir: — I have just heard of your great bereavement,
and the great loss of the Church, in the death of your son Walter.
Is it true '! The account came here in the New York Observer.
476 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
Can it be that he is laid aside from that great work in which he
was engaged, and for which he was so eminently qualified !
Truly the Lord's ways are not our ways, nor his thoughts our
thoughts. I have read the accounts of the deaths of many mis-
sionaries, but I have never felt the death of any brother so much
as that of Brother Lowrie, in China. I was for a short time a
classmate of his, so that I had an opportunity of knowing some-
thing of his talents and acquirements. It always seemed to me
that he was the very man for the important station which he
filled, suited in every way to be a missionary to the Chinese. But
he is gone. How soon is his work ended ! The Lord had need
of him. How dark and mysterious is this providence ! Why is
he so soon called away ? What are we to learn from this dispen-
sation ? Although a violent act by a band of pirates, yet it is all
ordered of God for some wise purpose. It is our duty to bow in
humble submission to his will. I know, my dear brother, that it
is a trial, a severe trial, to you. But you know v.'here to go for
consolation. You have the best of evidence that your son was
reatly, and it is now well with him. "It is the Lord ; let him do
what seemeth liim good." Soon we will meet our dear friends in
heaven. Your brother, R. M. Loughridge.
From the Rev. J. L. Wilson, of the Gaboon Mission, Africa.
Mount Clio, January 13th, 1848.
Rev. John C. Lowrie —
My Dear Brother : — The papers brotight us yesterday the
astounding intelligence of the death of your dear brother. If it is
the slightest alleviation of the grief tliat yoti must all feel, be as-
sured of our most cordial sympathies, and I have no doubt but
thousands of other Christian hearts feel equally as much.
Your honored father must have been almost overwhelmed by
this event. And yet, why should he? It was under the sove-
reign eye of a most merciful God that this deed of violence was
perpetrated : and as inexplicable as it may be to us, I have no con-
viction more firmly made on my mind, than that this very event
will be overruled, so as to subserve the cause of missions and the
salvation of the heathen more effectually even than the life of
your brother.
My own aged father, who could more easily enter into the feel-
ings of your father than most persons, could scarcely compose him-
self to sleep last night after hearing the painful intelligence read;
and if such were his feelings, what must have been those of your
own family ? God grant you all grace to recognize his hand in this
event, and to exercise the most cheerful resignation to his holy will !
Accept of m}'^ sincere S3nnpathies, and believe me, as ever.
Your affectionate brother in Christ,
J. L. Wilson.
LETTER OF THE REV. J. R. ECKARD. 477
From the Rev. James Read Eckard, of the Ceylon Mission.
Philadelphia, December 30th, 1847.
Rev. John C. Lowrie —
My Dear Brother : — It was not until this morning that I as-
certained the truth of the report in the newspapers of your brother's
death in the service of his Heavenly Master. I went twice to the
Mission Rooms, but they were vacant each time. This morning
I went again, and was told that no doubt was entertained of the
painful tidings. I did not wish to write on the subject while
there was, or might possibly be, any room for doubt.
I had no personal acquaintance with your brother, but have re-
peatedly thought of him with interest, not only from his relation-
ship to you, but from what I had learned of liis character for piety
and talents from others. Although, when he perished by the hand
of violence, it was not directly on account of his being a mission-
ary, yet indirectly and really it was. Had he not been led by the
love of Christ and of the souls of men to that distant field of half-
civilized heathen, the peril would have been avoided. It was
doubtless with a full view of all the dangers to be encountered —
whether from disease, or the sea, or the evil passions of lawless
men, that he went. When, in the last century, the Moravian
missionaries were massacred by the Indians of North America,
when, in modern times, Lyman, Munson, and Williams, died by
violence, the sentiments and voice of the churches added their
names to the long list of the martyrs of Jesus Christ. In spirit
they were such, and also in their mode of deatli. They were in a
very real sense witnesses for Christ, not only in their death, but in
its peculiar circumstances. The name of your brother is now
written on that glorious list. That it was long since written in
the Lamb's book of life, and that he now is in the enjoyment of
his Saviour's presence in Paradise, must be your chief consolation.
And it is a sufficient one. The other thought, however, of the
honor put on your brother by the Saviour, in permitting him thus
to glorify him, may tend to abate the pain arising from the fact
that he was removed by violent hands. I trust that through the
grace of God your consolations may abound in this trial.
Please express to your father my deep sympathy with him in
this bereavement, and my hope that God will make clear to his
soul the manifold sources of consolation which are secured by cove-
nant through Jesus Christ.
YourSj very truly,
James Read Eckard.
478 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
From the Rev. John O. Procter.
Williamsport, Md., February 8th, 1849.
Walter Lowrie, Esq.. —
Dear Sir : — .... Very frequently have I thought of your
dear son, as a dear brother in the Lord. The first Sabbath that I
spent in Princeton, he invited me to teach a class in his Sabbath
school in Q,ueenston, which I did, and every Sabbath after that,
that I spent at the Seminary, I spent the after part of the day in
his Sabbath school. He was a most excellent superintendent.
We generally went to the school together, and returned together,
and oftentimes was our religious conversation most entertaining
and comforting. I very frequently have thought of one remark
made by him when we were walking thus together. We were
speaking of the prospect before us in this life ; of the deceit-
fulness of the heart, of the wickedness of men, of the trials
of the Christian, &.c., when he remarked, "Sometimes wlien I
think of these things, I feel inclined to wish, if it were the will of
my Master, just to lie down and die. The thought of having to
spend, probably, eight or ten years in this wicked world, is not
very pleasing. But, if it be my Master's will, I will cheerfully
obey." Was he not ripening rapidly for heaven ? Even though
he was then laboriously preparing for his Master's service in His
vineyard here below, and was so far as we could judge from his
conduct anxious to go to the heathen as a missionary ; still, if God
had willed it so, he would cheerfully have left this troublesome
world and have gone to his rest.
I never was so faithful a Sabbath school teacher as I was when
engaged as a co-worker with him ; and I do believe it was greatly
owing to his faithful remarks made in my hearing when I ac-
cepted the invitation to become a teacher. Among other tilings,
he gave me a most earnest, anxious look, and said, " Well, brother
Proctor, remember, I shall want you to do your duty." That
look, and those words, I never expect to forget. They had a
most happy effect upon me ; and. with the blessing of God, I
may say, indirectly, they had a most happy effect on my class.
Perhaps some remarks as to the way of his conducting his school
will not be out of place. We had a teachers' meeting every
Saturday evening in some private house, when, after singing and
prayer, he called upon the male teachers to answer questions on
the lesson for the next day. By this means all were brought to
prepare their lessons by Saturday evening ; and the ladies, hear-
ing our views, would be still better prepared to instruct their
scholars. After the lesson was thus gone over, we again sung;
when the teachers were called upon individually to report respect-
ing their classes. If any of the scholars were concerned about
their souls, we would make such the special subjects of our pray-
LETTERS OF REV. MESSRS. PROCTOR AND LOWRIE. 479
ers before we closed. By that means also all the teachers became
acquainted and interested in each other. . . .
Yours in the bonds of Christ,
John O, Procter.
From the Rev. John M. Loicrie.
Wellsville, Ohio, January 26th, 1849.
Dear Uncle —
I enclose several letters to me from cousin Walter. As we
were so much together while he was in the College and in the
Seminary, our communications were chiefly personal and not
written. I will therefore give you some of his religious experi-
ence and views during these periods.
If I were drawing off a sketch of his character as a student at
College and in the Theological Seminary I would notice some
such points as these.
His first care was attention to his own spiritual wants. I never
knew a man more scrupulously careful to maintain punctual and
deliberate habits of private devotion. We were for a short time
occupants of the same room ; and it was arranged that our hours
of exercise should leave the room private to each of us in turn.
Many times when this arrangement was interrupted, 1 have
known him enter a literal closet in one corner of the room, that
no eye might see him while he sought his Father's face.
It was chiefly his desire to secure uninterrupted hours and sea-
sons, unknown to any, for devotional duties, which led him to
secure a room by himself during the greater part of his course,
after his profession of piety. His seasons of fasting I sometimes
knew, because we ate at the same table ; but at other times, I
think, he so arranged them in connection with visits to friends in
the country, that we supposed him not yet returned from a visit,
when, in truth, he had exchanged his social intercourse for a sea-
son of solitary communion with his God. And I have often
knocked at his door for admittance, when I knew he was within,
but he would not reply, for he wished uninterrupted his seasons
of devotion and of study. It seemed also remarkable to me that
he so well maintained his devotional habits when absent from
home. I have no knowledge of any friend whose habit of medi-
tation upon the Bible after reading it was so fixed. At the foun-
dation of his Christian character, was an ardent love for his closet.
Next to his attention to private duties, I would rank his affec-
tionate concern for the piety of his fellow-professors of religion.
There was at Jefferson College a small religious society, still in
existence, bearing the name of the missionary Brainerd Of this
he was an active member, and he ever regarded it as a means
both of profit and influence. But outside of this little band, he
exerted no ordinary influence upon Christian students. He was
480 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
especially beloved by those who were associated with him in the
support of Sabbath Schools and prayer-meetings, for he was nat-
urally more with them. And as from the very first his was a
missionary spirit, so those brethren both at Canonsburg and Prince-
ton, whose minds turned towards the great field whitening to the
harvest, were his peculiar companions. There was one room at
Canonsburg that was the place of many a conference for the land
of Sinim, and many a prayer that it might be opened to the her-
alds of salvation. And there are brethren in China and India,
and I believe in heaven too, who will long remember room No.
29, in Princeton Seminary, hallowed as it has been by conference,
by tears and prayers. I. scarcely know one whose influence upon
tlie piety of the institutions, both at the College and the Seminary,
was more consistent and healthful than his was.
His influence was also exerted over those who made no pro-
fession of religion. He was deeply impressed with the truth, that
to every young man the period of College life was the golden op-
portunity to secure salvation, or to strengthen pious habits and a
pious character. He was well aware, also, of the many insidious
and dangerous snares which beset those who are so early in life
set free from the restraints and the wholesome discipline of a par-
ent's control. Many a time has he expressed deep anxiety on
learning that some interesting and inexperienced youth had taken
his boarding in dangerous company
Worthy of notice, also, are his zeal and devotion to improve op-
portunities for usefulness. The Sabbath School at Miller's Run,
where he attended church, and of which he was superintendent,
was about six miles from Canonsburg. Under his control it was
a thriving and most interesting school. Accompanied by a band
of atfe(itionate teachers, his fellow-students, he went to the school,
sustained meetings for exhortation and prayer, visited the sick,
and was ever welcome to the firesides and the tables of an attach-
ed people. Beyond doubt, there are precious souls in that congre-
gation, who retain the sweet savor of his memory. They will
remember the crowded prayer-meeting, the solemn Bible-class, the
simple address, and the fact that many young persons, almost all
from the Sabbath School, united with the Church during his so-
journ with them, as evidence of his influence and usefulness
among that people. These labors were a delight to him, though
they were toilsome. Often he would walk as many as eight miles
on Saturday evening to hold a prayer-meeting, and return to the
church on Sabbath morning to the school.
There remains one other matter which I have in lively, and I
may add, grateful remembrance, — this is his faithfulness in dis-
charging the important but unpleasant duty of admonition. I
have lying before me a letter, which cannot be made public, but
which is an excellent instance and evidence of his watchfulness
over his brethren, and of his kindness and prudence to warn and
LETTER OF THE REV. CHARLES HODGE, D.D. 481
correct. Nor was he less ready to receive than to administer
reproof. ....
Yours affectionately,
J. M. LOWRIE.
From the Rev. Charles Hodge^ D. D.
Princeton, December 29th, 1847.
Walter Lowrie, Esa. —
My Dear Sir : — Dr. Alexander mentioned tome yesterday, his
seeing the most distressing account, in the paper, concerning your
precious son. I could hardly credit it ; and yet it was so circum-
stantial, 1 fear there is little room to hope it is unfounded.
I feel impelled to express to you my sympathy in your profound
affliction, though I know such expressions are of no avail. There
is no other comforter in such cases than the Holy Ghost. It is his
office to give consolation, to fill the soul with such views of God,
and Christ, and eternity, as to enable it to feel that our afflictions,
which are but for a moment, will work out an exceeding weight
of glory. As he filled the martyrs with peace and joy in the midst
of death, he can fill even a father's heart with gratitude and calm
resignation, in yielding a son to death for Christ's sake. Alas, my
dear sir, suppose your son had fallen in battle, or been cut down
unprepared in the midst of his sins, how different would be your
feelings ! Now you can think of him, not only as having lived
for the Lord, but as dying for him, and rejoice in the assurance
that living or dying he is the Lord's.
It must also be a comfort to you to have had such a son, and to
know that the whole of our Church held him in such honor,
looked upon him as one of their most valued and useful mission-
aries, as pre-eminently qualified for his M-ork, and promising to ac-
complish more than almost any other man for the cause of Christ
in China. This consideration must indeed enhance the sense of
the greatness of your loss, but at the same time it must be a conr
solation to know that his value was appreciated.
You do not weep alone; the whole Church mourns with: you;
thousands of prayers will ascend for you, for your children, for
China, for the remaining missionaries, which otherwise had not
been offered, or offered with far less fervor and sincerity. Blessed
be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father, of
mercies, and the God of all comfort; may he comfort you in all
your tribulation, that you may be able to comfort tliem which are
in any trouble, with the comfort wherewith you yourself are com-
forted of God. Those whom God exercises with great afflictions,
are those whom he designs greatly to bless. If we suffer, we shall
also reign with him. When we see him. and receive the assu-
rance of his love, we shall forget all we ever suffered for his sake.
To Mrs. Lowrie, and to Mr. John C. Lowrie, I would bee to
31
482 MEMOIR OF "WALTER M. LOWRIE.
present my sincere condolence — were, at such a time, any expres-
sion of fellowship of any account.
Praying God to fill your heart with his own fulness, I am, dear
sir, very truly,
Your sympathizing friend and fellow-servant,
Charles Hodge.
From the Rev. Samuel Miller, D. D.
Prmceton, December 31st, 1847.
Walter Lowrie, Esq. —
My Very Dear Sir : — I trust I need not say, that the last
melancholy news from China filled me with heartfelt sorrow ; and
that the tenderest sympathy for you, and for the brothers of the
beloved man, whom a sovereign God has taken to himself, has
occupied my mind ever since I received the mournful intelli-
gence.
Truly clouds and darkness are round about the doings of our
Master in heaven; but righteousness and judgment are the habi-
tation of his throne. What He does we know not now, but we
shall know hereafter. Had I been left to name a foreign mission-
ary, whose talents, and zeal, and peculiar adaptedness to the work
in which he was engaged, promised the largest amount of perma-
nent usefulness, I should, without hesitation, have mentioned your
lamented son as that man. But an infinitely wise God, who loves
the missionary cause unspeakably more than you or I, and who
understands the best means of promoting that cause unspeakably
better than either of us, has seen fit to call him away, before he
had readied the meridian of life, and translate him to a different
and higher field of service.
This is indeed, to the e3'^e of man, a dark and mysterious dis-
pensation. But we know that He who is infinite in wisdom, and
unlimited in power, has seen proper to order it so. This is enough.
If we could see the whole matter just as it lies before the mind of
the King of Zion, to whom you and I have, without reserve, I
trust, dedicated ourselves, we should be ready to sa}'^, with unmin-
gled joy, " He hath done all things well."
The sources of consolation, my dear friend, which present them-
selves to you on this occasion, are so multiplied and rich, that I
cannot attempt to enumerate them. Tru]3^you have reason to be
thankful that you had such a son, — that he v>'as spared to you so long,
— that he was enabled to give so many testimonies of his zeal and
fidelity, — and that you have so much reason confidently to believe,
that the unfeeling violence of barbarians was made the means of
more speedily introducing him to eternal and unmingled blessed-
ness.
That the consolations of the Gospel may abound in your heart,
LETTERS OF REV. DR. J. MILLER AND REV. J. A. SAVAGE. 483
and in your family on this mournful occasion, is the sincere wish
and prayer of, my dear sir,
Your sympathizing friend and brother in Christian bonds,
Samuel Miller.
From the Rev. John A. Savage.
Ogdenshiirg, N. Y., January 3d, 1848.
Walter Lowrie, Esa.—
My Dear Sir : — ^To my inexpressible sorrow I this morning
saw announced in a New York paper the shocking death of your
son Walter. From the circumstances narrated, I cannot doubt
but its truth will be confirmed by the papers which we shall get
by to-night's mail. I will not undertake the office of condolence
with you under tbis sad, sad affliction, any further than simply
to say, that in this your affliction I am afflicted. The first parox-
ysms of your grief, before this reaches you, will have been suc-
ceeded, I doubt not, by a calm, submissive resignation, leaning
on the arm of that Comforter, to whose fellowship you have long
had familiar access, of whom it is written, "In all tbeir affliction
he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them."
On his visit to western and northern New York, just prior to
his departure for the East, he was domesticated with us long
enough to endear him to every member of my family, and many
in my congregation ; even my children that were just beginning
to prattle, retain a vivid recollection of him, and up to the present
time have been in the habit of inspecting the Chronicle to find
some notice of, or communication from him. His memory will
be cherished by them, I doubt not. As 1 spoke to them to-day of
the scene of his death, the big tears gathered in their eyes, and
one of them with an expression of deep emotion said, "I thought
we should see him again, but now we shall not till the sea gives
up its dead."
He had taught them to sing that beautiful hymn commencing
with " I would not live alway," ; and as a singular coinci-
dence, last evening when the family were together, it was sung by
them, unconscious of the sad tidings that would reach them on
the morrow
Your very affectionate friend and brother,
John A. Savage.
From the Rev. Joseph H. Jones, D. D.
Philadelphia, December 29th, 1847.
Walter Lowrie, Esq. —
My Dear Friend and Brother : — The papers of this
morning confirm the news of yesterday, and I cannot doubt its
484 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE,
truth. It fills us all with the deepest sonow, when we take any
view of this dark Providence, but of the gain that it brings to
him. What a trial of the faith of the Church ! Why, oh, why,
was this permitted? Truly the footsteps of God are in the deep,
and he givetli no account of his matters to any of us. You are
assured, dear brother, of the hearty condolence of all who know
you, and know how great your personal loss. But what a privi-
lege and honor to have had such a son, and to have had him of-
fered to God on the altar of such a glorious cause ! Indeed, much
as our hearts ache with you and for you, we rejoice more. We
think that God has called him out of the vineyard prematurely ;
but we arc not to be judges of the dispensations of Omniscience.
May this removal of an instrument on which we were tempted
to lean so much, prove a wholesome admonition to the Church,
and bring us nearer to Christ. We are prone to forget that He
can fulfil his purposes by " few" as well as by " many," and that
He looks more at the state of our hearts than to the number of
our agencies. Perhaps I ought to apologize for this intrusion at
a time when the proffered sympathy of friends can do little more
than interrupt your communion with God ; but I know that you
will suffer this liberty for our sake, if not your own. May He
" who comforteth us in all our tribulation" be your comforter in
this ; and " as the sufferings of Christ abound in " you, " so may
your consolation abound by Christ." What a precious sentiment,
that " it is given us in behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him
but also to suffer for his sake."
Affectionately and fraternally yours,
Joseph H. Jones.
From the Rev. William S. Plumer, D. D.
Baltimore, Md., January 1st, 1848.
Walter Lowrie, Esa. —
My Dear Brother : — My heart has been filled with sorrow for
you and for the cause of Christ, at the sad intelligence which has
just reached us. I feel confounded, and called to more than usual
humiliation and sorrow. Why should one so young, so devoted,
and so promising, be taken, and I who am so unprofitable, and
whose days must end in the course of nature so much sooner than
his would have done, be spared ? I cannot tell. He doeth all
things well. Some years ago I wrote a letter to a bereaved friend.
It was afterwards printed as a tract. I enclose a copy, hoping it
may comfort or soothe one who has my highest respect and ten-
derest sympathy.* The Lord sustain you and cheer you and bless
you ! Do not feel under any obligation to answer this. I wish
not to intrude upon your privacy and the sacred ness of your sor-
♦ American Tract Society, No. 372.
LETTERS OF REV. DR. PLUMES AND MR. J. P. ENGLES. 485
row. My family, especially Mrs. Plumer, seem to be as much
afflicted as if we had lost a relative. The Lord bless you and
your wife and all yours !
Very truly and affectionately yours,
Wm. S. Plumer.
From, Joseph P. Engles, Esq.
Philadelphia, January 2d, 1848.
Rev. John C. Lowrie —
My Dear Brother : — If I had obeyed the impulse of my
feelings, I would have addressed you immediately after reading in
the daily paper, the astounding intelligence of the loss which your
family have suffered in the death of a beloved son and brother,
and the Church and the heathen world, in the departure of a zeal-
ous and devoted missionary. But circumstances hindered, and
now that I have devoted the closing hour of the Sabbath to this
office of fraternal affection, I am at a loss in what terms to speak
of this solemn event. Shall I condole with you on having lost a
brother so dearly and justly beloved ? Or shall I congratulate you
on having another of your loved ones safely housed from the
storms of time in a mansion of eternal rest ? I have no doubt,
however opposite the states of feeling which would call for one or
the other of these expressions, you have experienced them both.
May the latter prevail, and moderate the intensity of the former.
My object is not to suggest grounds of consolation. You are as
fully aware of them as I can be, and have already experienced
them. I only want to give expression to my own feelings of sor-
row under this dark and mysterious dispensation of Divine Provi-
dence, and to assure you that you do not mourn alone. I had not
the pleasure of a personal acquaintance with your brother, but I
loved him for youV sake and his work's sake. I beg you to assure
your father of the deep sympathy which I, in conjmon with the
whole Christian world so far as the event is known, feel for his
bereavement. At his time of life it comes with fearful weight, but
God, who has enabled him to make so many sacrifices for the mis-
sionary cause, will not leave him to bear this burden alone. I
trust it will stimulate him and us all, to take a still deeper interest
in the cause. Dr. J. A. Alexander alluded beautifully to the
event in his sermon this afternoon. I wish I could repeat the pas-
sage. Perhaps you may get it from him. His text was Rom.
X. 16. Mr. Macklin also alluded to it to-night, and got me to read
to the congregation the impressive address of a missionary in
China to the churches ; I hope not without effect.
Mrs. Engles joins me in these expressions of affectionate sympa-
thy. We have drunk deep of the cup of affliction, but the circum-
stances of our bereavements do not furnish the same strong
grounds of consolation which yours do. Still it is the same wise,
486 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
holy, gracious God who has afflicted us both, and his will be
done.
O that we may be enabled so to improve the joys and sorrows
of this life, that they may result in eternal joy.
Believe me to be truly
Your friend and brother,
Jos. P. Engles.
From the Rev. W. M. Atkinso7i, D. D.
Winchester, Va., January 3d, 1848.
Walter Lowrie, Esa. —
Dear Sir : — In common with myriads of your brethren, I
mourn with you. In common with them, I .strive to pray for you.
And we pray, as I trust you " sorrow," " not as they who have no
hope !" We hope that the Lord will bless this dispensation to
your own soul, and to the cause to which, in subordination to Him
whose cause it is, your soul is devoted. The blood of the martyrs
has ever been the seed of the Church, and we trust that the death
of our first martyr, may prove to be life to our beloved Zion.
Nothing, you know, tended so much to the first great spread of the
Apostolic church, as the death of Stephen and the accompanying
persecution. So may it be, so we hope it ivill be, in the present
instance. We trust that your expiring Walter may prove to have
been, in his holy warfare, a dying Samson. And we are assured
that He who bade Peter come to liim on the boisterous sea, caused
his young servant to meet him there ; and if He selected for him
that way as the best way to heaven, and that hour as tlie best
time, what are loe that we should gainsay it? The sea cannot
hold his body always, for the sea shall give up its dead ; and even
now his spirit is with God who gave it. If God has been pleased
early to give liim the victory, and to crown him with the glory of
the conqueror, why should we desire him to have been kept longer
in the strife and the turmoil of the battle-field?
Think of him as faith now tells you he is, — ^with Christ, which
is far better than even to labor successfully for the Chinch : think
of him in glory, and far more wisely than old Orn^ond said them,
may i/ou repeat Ai^ words over his accomplished son. "So much,"
I have sometimes thought, when I have mourned over a dear
child snatched from me, "so much I have realized; one most
precious portion of my wealth is safe — forever !"
I never met your son personally, but John, my brother, who
was his fellow-student, loved and honored him, and had taught
me to do the same ; and all that I have heard from others, seemed
but to deepen the impression his statements made. To death, the
universal token of God's hatred of sin, he must at some time have
bowed, and God knew the best time.
The narrative given by Mr. Loomis of the calm and fearless
LETTERS OF THE REV. DRS. ATKINSON AND FOOTE. 487
dignity with which he met it, under circumstances so appalUng to
flesh and blood, is most impressively subhme. It was an end be-
fitting such a hfe. And when my mind dwells upon it, I feel that
congratulation is almost as much called for as condolence. And
yet, the more admirable he was, the greater is the bereavement.
But there is a comforter, whose presence would compensate for the
removal of the human body and soul of Christ himself. To that
comforter I commend you and your afflicted family, especially
those of them I have the privilege to know, Mrs. Lowrie and Mr.
and Mrs. J. C. Lowrie.
I am, my dear sir,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
W. M. Atkinson.
N. B. Can we be truly said to be bereaved or desolate, while
Christ lives and is ours ?
W. M. A.
From the Rev. W. H. Foots, D. D.
* Romney, Va., January 6th, 1848.
Brother Lowrie —
On Monday I read the letter from China. My wife and myself
have sympathized with you and your family in this sacrifice for
the cause of God. I can but hope that your faith has already
gotten the victory over nature. It seems to me that there would
be a bitterness in the manner of his death, that would be unal-
loyed but for the blessed fact, that the Lord God Omnipotent
reigns, and has given all things into the hands of Christ, who has
permitted (his event to take place as one of the preparatory ones
in the conversion of China. Looking at it thus, the grace of God
can make you feel, the will of God he done. I do not say, my
brother, that I could say so in any such trial : I know myself too
well to say I could bear any cross. But I know God can help you
to bear yours ; and our prayer is, that God will enable you to re-
joice in his government and grace.
You have long desired the conversion of China, and God has
set it at a terrible price. I do not say that I could pay it, but I
pray that you may. And when was a nation bought without
blood, — the blood of Christ first, and of Christians afterwards ?
What did Paul mean by filling up in his flesh a measure of suf-
fering? Not that he added anything to Christ's, but that the suf-
ferings of his Lord flowed through that channel. O who can tell
but the channel is opened from your veins to let the peace-speaking
blood of Christ flow to that poor, perishing nation ?
My wife joins her sympathies with mine, and has been a?king
herself, if slie could give up her little child a sacrifice for God.
488 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
What a blessed text is that which promises strength according to
our day. May God help you in this day of your trouble !
Yours sincerely, in the best of bonds,
W. Henry Foote.
From the Rev. William C. Anderson, D. D.
Dayton, Ohio, January 7th, 1848.
Walter Lowrie, Esq. —
My Dear Brother : — God's " ways are not as ours, neither
are his thoughts as our thoughts." To our poor, finite minds,
these ways of his are often in the deep waters ; yet are they right
ways. Although the journey of Israel was to them inexplicable,
yet it was the right way : " He led them forth by the right way."
And so, my dear brother, is it now. He has ever led you by the
right way ; and even this last painful path along which he has
carried you, is a right one. I cannot see how; but I know it is
a right way.
My object in this note, however, is not to offer consolation, or
in any way intrude upon your domestic griefs : the source of con-
solation you know, without advice, and your griefs a stranger
may not meddle with. I write simply to assure you gf my pro-
found sympathy with you in this strange visitation of your Master.
I try to pray that God may bestow upon you all the consolation
you need. Please accept the assurance of the sympathies of Mrs.
Anderson and myself with yourself and family in this hour of
your affliction.
In addition to the great consolation which the certainty of your
dear son's everlasting safety furnishes, let me name the fact, that
he fell at his post. My dear brother, is there not much comfort
in this fact? When the Master came, he found your son with the
armor on — he fell in the trenches ; and, like his blessed Master,
fell by the hands of those he went to save. We can ill spare him,
but thy will, O God, be done !
My brother, you long since gave up yourself, and family, and
all, to the great work of missions ; — well, the Master, you see, is
taking you at your offer. Be strong in the Lord, and toil on.
Mrs. A. joins in much love to you and your family. We would
be pleased always to hear from you, if your many and heavy
labors would allow it.
In the bonds of the Gospel of Christ, your brother,
W. C. Anderson.
Fro7n Rev. Loyal Young.
Butler, Pa. January 26th, 1848.
Rev. John C. Lowrie —
My Very Dear Brother :— I trust that it is not altogether
too late to express to you what I have felt and still feel, in view of
LETTERS OF REV. DRS. ANDERSON AND CAMPBELL. 489
the violent death of your — of mir — brother, endeared to the cliurch
of Christ, and to none more than to myself. Never has a death
occurred since my residence here, that produced such a sensation
in Butler. The people of God have many of them often spoken
to me about his last visit to us as peculiarly interesting. Some
of them when leading' in prayer at the Monthly Concert, always
remembered him in their petitions. They all hoped that since he
outrode the storms in safety, and escaped the dangers of the
ocean, lie was destined to be preserved still further for great use-
fulness to the Church. But God's method of accomplishing his
purposes is altogether different frou) our expectations. I need
not say to yon^ dear brother, that it is all right, — all /or the best,
— all in mercy. I know that you have already gone, and often
gone, to the fountain of consolation ; and heard tfie Saviour say,
" Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you ; not as the
world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid." I know that you long since committed
that dear brother to the care of the Lord, and felt perfectly satis-
fied that he would do with him what was right. And now that
He has taken him to his own arms, to the abode of your beloved
Louisa, of your precious mother, of your babes, of your dear sis-
ter Eliza, and of your noble brother Mathew, you have it not in
your lieart to repine. Dear brother, the attractions of heaven are
gathering strength continually. How joyous will be the meeting
at last !
But we could have wislied that Walter had met with a different
death. The first account must have been painful to you in the
extreme. Well did our Saviour exhort his disciples, "JBeware of
meny The elements might combine to destroy ; the sea might
threaten to devour, during that terrific storm which lasted for
days and nights, when your brother was in the long-boat, tossed
about as a feather ; but there was no evil to be apprehended from
them. It belonged to men, cruel me?i, to do the deed. " Beicare
of mew." But the last struggle was soon over, no doubt ; and his
spirit received to rest. All that is painful wo?/?, in the case, is the
loss of such a missionary. We thought he could not be spared.
God thought otherwise. " His thoughts are not as our thoughts,
nor his ways as our ways." ....
Yours in Christ,
Loyal Young.
From the Rev. John N. Campbell, D. D.
Albany, N. Y., January 31st, 1848.
Waltbr Lowrie, Esq. —
My Dear Sir : — I have been quite sick for several weeks past
with influenza, or I would not have delayed so long to express to
you how sincerely I sympathize with you in the very sore afliic-
490 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
tioii with which it has seemed good to our Heavenly Father to
try you. I have a vivid recollection of your son, whom I saw
during the examinations of the Seminary in two successive years.
He made a strong impression on me, and I remember well the
surprise and pleasure with which I learned that one so well quali-
fied by natural endowments and accomplishments, and apparently
so well fitted by grace for the missionary work, had devoted him-
self to the Master in that self-denying and laborious department
of the ministry. How mysterious his removal and manner of it
— so early — at a moment of such promise — -by violence ! But
what we know not now about the Master's doings we shall know
hereafter. We shall see then, and say with UiuUterabie gratitude
and joy, what we can utter now often only with a trembling
voice and a broken heart, " He hath done all things well."
I have read I3ishop Boone's letter with great interest. He has
there a favorite thought of my own, that tlie work of the Church
triumphant is the work of missions. I confidently behove that
your son has changed^ not his occupation, but only the sphere of
his labors.
I beg you to accept for yourself and family, part^ularly for my
friend, your elder son, the assurance of my deep sympathy in
your affliction, and to believe me,
Very truly, John N. Campbell.
Froin Mrs. A. H. Richardso?i, England.
Newcastle-on-Ti/ne, 1st month, 13ih, 1848,
My Dear and Honored Friend —
My heart ached as I read thy kind letter of (he 11th ult., for its
calm and cheerful tone showed but too plainly that the afflicting
intelligence that had reached us some weeks previous, had not
arrived at New York when that letter was penned. I suppose the
news must have come by the overland mail. It met my eye in-
cidentally in one of our local newspapers, but every circumstance
connected with the afflictive event seemed too svircly marked to
admit of a doubt as to its correctness.
We have grieved for, and with you all, my dear and beloved
friend, but more especially for the fond and affectionate father,
whose heart will have been wrung to the very uttermost. And
yet, perhaps, I should hardly use that word, for thy son has fallen
as one of " the noble army of martyrs," — true to \i\ii God — true
to the last, to the cause of his Saviour, and when the first shock is
over, this will be a cause of thankful rejoicing.
I must not say much. The wound is too recent, and your hearts
will still be bleeding most sorely, and yet I think I cannot letixnother
post go out, without assuring you, one and all, o( our deep, and
tender, and affectionate sympathy, and of our fervent desires that
this intense trial may be overruled for your own good, and for the
NOTICE BY THE E.T. REV. G, SMITH. 491
good of the Christian Church. "The blood of the martyrs is the
seed of that Church," and who is to say how unseen good may
be permitted to arise out of this most severe and bitter trial ? . . .
As the account came to us, however afflicting, it bore a beautiful
and voluntary testimony to the noble bearing of (he departed — that
there had not been the smallest aggravation or provocation against
these cruel men on his part, or on the part of those around him. How
increasingly impressive does this render the event! No bad man's
soul was sent into eternity on this sad occasion, but the sufferer
calmly bowed his head, and pxesently was welcomed by ministering
angels from a world of wickedness to one of everlasting blessedness.
O my friend, through all the sorrow there must be joy in this. His
God and thy God will not forsake, nor hide his face from any one
of you in this hour of nature's severest agony, but will smile gra-
ciously upon you, and Jesus will again utter the words — "In the
world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have over-
come the world."
I know fjuite well tliat 1 ought not to look for a letter for a good
while to coine, but whenever thou canst kindly favor me with a
few lines to say how you all are, they would be very gratefully
received.
With cordial, affectionate, and sympathizing regards, thine, my
dear friend, with the sincerest esteem,
Anna H. Richardson.
REMARKS ON THE DEATH OF THE REV. WALTER M. LOWRIE.
By the Rt. Rev. George Smith, D.D.
The following article is taken from an English Magazine, of
August, 1818, the Church Missionary Gleaner, where it appeared
as a tribute to the memory of the departed missionary. It will be
read with interest, as coming from the pen of an English Episco-
pal missionary in China, and a personal friend of the deceased,
the Right Rev. George Smith, Bishop of the Church of England
at Hong Kong :
The dispensations of Providence are often enveloped in a depth
of mystery, which the poor fallible comprehension of man is un-
able to fathom. This is in an especial manner the case in reference
to missionary labors. Human instrumeiits, of whose adaptation
to missionary usefulness great hopes were entertained, are one by
one removed from the scene of their labors, by the failure of
health, or by the hand of premature death. An important lesson
is conveyed to our minds — that God is independent of the instru-
ment in the carrying forward His purposes of love to our fal en
world ; and, by snapping asunder the cord of human expectations,
He sounds in mortal ears the often-needed admonition. Cease ye
from man !
These remarks have been drawn forth by a piece of intelligence
492 MEMOIR OP WALTER M. LOWRIE.
of a most affecting and heart-rending nature. The subject of
t!iis brief notice is the late Rev. W. M. Lowrie, a missionary of
the American General Assembly's Board of Foreign Missions.
Highly gifted with mental endowments of the first order, and
eminent for his simple and unaffected piety, Mr. Lowrie seemed,
to human eye, likely to become a laborer of no ordinary value in
the missionar}?^ vineyard.
His father was for many years a member of the Senate of the
United States. His eldest son went to India as a missionary,
where, his wife having been removed from this life in Calcutta,
the insalubrity of the climate soon removed himself from the
missionary field. His third son, the subject of this memoir, went
to China in 1842, as one of the first missionaries from the Ameri-
can Presbyterian Church to that vast field of missionary enter-
prise. Here many dangers awaited him, from which a gracious
Providence interposed to deliver him until his appointed work was
done. The first occurred in his voyage to Singapore; but the
vessel struck on a slioal, and in a few hours went to pieces. Mr.
Lowrie and his fellow-passengers with difficulty escaped from the
wreck in two small open boats. Witli only the clothes I hey had
on tlieir bodies, and a stnall stock of provisions, they found them-
selves alone on the broad ocean, at a distance of five hundred
miles from the nearest land. Wiiile in this unprotected state they
were exposed to the violence of a severe typlioon ; and their pres-
ervation from a watery grave was almost miraculous. They at
length reached the shore of one of the Phillipine islands, where
they were kindly treated by the Indians ; but they lost four men
in approaching the surf, by which one of the boats was capsized.
The moment after they reached the land, by an almost involun-
tary act of thankfulness, every man in that mingled company fell
on his knees on the unknown soil, and offered up his praise to the
great Author of their deliverance. Mr. Lowrie subsequently ar-
rived at the Spanish Colony of Manila, from which he found an
opportunity of returning to Macao. At another period he em-
barked for the north of Cliina, when he was overtaken by a vio-
lent gale, and compelled to return to Macao. Here he pursued his
ministerial labors among the European and American residents,
to some of whom his ministrations were greatly blessed. After a
course of Chinese studies, he proceeded, in 1845, to the newly-
formed station of Ningpo, where the writer of this short account
renewed his acquaintance with a friend whose catholicity of
spirit, self-denying zeal, unwearied industry, and cordial co-opera-
tion in every good work, will ever endear his name to the whole
body of his fellow-laborers, and will, it is hoped, embalm his
memory in the grateful recollections of many Chinese listeners to
the message of redeeming love.
In the month of June last, Mr. Lowrie proceeded from Ningpo
to Shanghai, as the delegate from his station to the General Com-
mittee of Protestant missionaries assembled at the latter station,
NOTICE FROM THE SOUTHERN PRESBYTERIAN. 493
to complete the revised translation of the New Testament into
Chinese. For this important work his superior education and
diligent studies had peculiarly fitted him. This last duty he had
been enabled to aid in accomplishing; and a part of the New
Testament was now given to the Chinese in their own tongue,
as the result of the united labors of the various Protestant mis-
sionary societies in China. He then sailed from Shanghai on his
return, as he thought, to Ningpo ; but he was about to take a
more important voyage, which was to conduct him to those peace-
ful shores where there would be no tempests nor storms, " where
there would be no more sorrow, and no more sin." He had
passed through the Bay of Chapoo, when the vessel in which he
was sailing was attacked by a Chinese pirate-boat. The pirates
succeeded in boarding the vessel, and our dear departed brother
was thrown into the deep, and found a watery grave in the ocean's
billows.
His loss will be deeply deplored, and not least by his aged and
beloved parents ; who, however, can reflect, for their comfort, that
their son has fallen in the noblest of causes. But a few years will
have passed away when the most successful votaries of this world,
and the most distinguished heroes of martial fame, would gladly
exchange all the laurels entwined by mortal hands around their
brow for one ray of that heavenly peace, and one gleam of that
unfading joy, which silently irradiates a missionary's grave.
SUNDAY THOUGHTS OF A LAYMAN.
Rev. Walter M. Lowrie.
The death of this eminent man, and devoted Missionary of the
Cross, is an event which has more deeply moved the sensibilities
of the Church than any other of recent occurrence. The death of
any man under such revolting circumstances, would excite the
sympathies, and deeply pain the hearts of all who knew him.
Here is one whose piety, talents and position made him known to
the whole Christian world, suddenly taken from time to eternity,
by murder. The horrors of such a death, to any but the real
Christian, must be inconceivably great. To him, even such a
death was peaceful. It came without warning, amid the soli-
tude of a dreary sea, far, far away from kindred — from sympathy
— from the rites of Christian society — from the means of Christian
sepulture — from all the charities and endearments of that sweet
and sacred place, home. Yet he quailed not before the destroyer.
He fell with his armor on. He died in sacred harness. His lamp
was trimmed and burning. God was with him. The moan of
the deep sea was his requiem, and the winds which swept wildly
over its wastes, pealed his song of triumph. He now stands be-
fore the Almighty throne. He sees as he is seen — he knows as
494 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
he is known, and realizes the bliss and the glory of Heaven. As
Christians, we may not lament on his account. For ourselves,
our children, and the bereaved heathen, we ought to weep.
In many particulars Mr. Lovvrie was a remarkable man. His
natural gifts, which were eminent in their variety and richness,
were elaborately cultivated. He was a thoroughly educated man.
Genius and culture, like his, could have commanded the wealth,
the honors, and the admiration of the world. He preferred the
riches of grace, the honor of God's favor, the admiration of angels.
He was lovely and attractive in his temper and manners. This
is manifest in the affectionate regrets, which have already poured
spontaneously forth, from every sect, realm and region, where he
was known.
His taste in letters was accurate and refined. Those who have
perused his letters, essays, sermons, and the admirable narrative
of the wreck of the Harmony, as well as those who were favored
with his personal acquaintance, attest that he was not only a
scholar, but an eminent rhetorician.
He is said to have been a profound scholar, thoroughly furnished
with the learning of the age, and particularly well informed in the-
ology and sacred literature. The venerable school of the Prophets
at Princeton, sent him forth with the spirit and the intellectual
furniture of such men as Doctor Alexander, and Doctor Miller.
He was remarkable in his early and absolute consecration to the
service of God as a missionary. His own wisli seems to have
been to labor in Africa, the darkest of all the continents ; choosing
that field, as it would seem, because of the greater sacrifice which
it would require. Yielding to the wishes of the Churcli, he gave
himself to China, and there he became remarkable for his Chris-
tian enterprise, discretion, courage, patience, and laborious studies.
His death is remarkable for the manner of it, by piracy and
murder, and at the time when it occurred. When he was begin-
ning to be fitted for his work, — when the eyes of all Christendom
were bent upon him, — when that hitherto closed empire was open-
ing wide her arsns to receive him and to embrace the Gospel, — in
the prime of early manhood ; then it was that the summons came,
and he departed, leaving the world amazed and awe-stricken with
the mystery of tlie Providence. God seems to have raised him
high, very high, that the attention of all men might be drawn to
him, in order to make his death impressive, and as I think, in-
structive. It is not my purpose to sketch, even in outline, the life
of our beloved brother, or to attempt an analysis of his character.
These remarks are intended to introduce the following brief re-
fiections :—
Mysterious as is the providence of God in taking from his own
work such a man, and at such a time, there are reasons for it
which lie open to Christian observation. We are to reflect that he
had already accomphshed much, and that his name and charac-
ter, his life and labors, do not die. Though dead he yet speaketh.
NOTICE FROM THE SOUTHERN PRESBYTERIAN. 495
He is still a great teacher upon earth ; his example will be a stiinu-
lant and an encouragement to all missionaries for ages to come.
He is one of the martyrs whose blood is the seed of the Church.
His ocean grave will be the point around which will rally the
faith, the energies, and the triumphs of the missionary spirit. His
name belongs to that scroll where are inscribed the names of Mar-
tyn, Morrison, and Mills. The memory of such men is the wic-
tioii of the missionary cause.
We are to remember that he is not dead, but changed and re-
moved. Who shall say, that the great Parent, in the sublime
benevolence of his nature, looked not upon his toiling and suffer-
ing child, and saw him ripe for glory, and in inappreciable tender-
ness, called him home to his own bosom ! Who shall say, that
in the eternal ordinations, the time for his reward had not arrived !
And why should we repine that he, a star in our moral firmament,
is removed to burn more gloriously in the firmament of Heaven'/
Let us beware lest our sorrows assume the character of selfishness.
He is removed to some higher, holier, and happier sphere of
service. This life is but the starting point of being — this theatre
of action, but a place of pupilage. The training of time is pre-
paratory discipline, to fit us for the duties which await us in eter-
nity. We do not realize this, yet it is true. What that service is,
we knovv' not. But tliis we believe, that it is adapted to the ener-
gies and capabilities of a ransomed and disembodied spirit ; it is
consistent with the will of God, and compatible with supreme
happiness and perfect holiness. Had the Missionary Board removed
Mr. Lowrie from China to some other station of higher responsi-
bility and more happy adaptation to his capabilities for serving,
however his co-laborers there might have regretted his absence
from them, they could not condemn the act ; they could not,
therefore, believe him dead, or lost to the Church, or insensible to
their affection. And why should they now? God has removed
him. Shall not the Lord of all the earth do right? He required
him at some point in the boundless range of his dominion, to do
something for which his intellectual development, and his maturity
in grace, when adapted to his new state of being, precisely fitted
him. So that he lives yet, and still works, but suffers not. A
little bold and decided thought, a little more than our accustomed
abstraction from things sensual, a little more determined exercise
of faith, will enable us to unite things temporal with things eter-
nal— to blend times past, present, and to come, and to reconcile
us to the ways of God.
The reason why so little comparatively is done by our churches
for foreign missions, why our prayers are so powerless — our at-
tendance upon the Monthly Concert so constrained and laggard, is
the want of a clear, strong, and abiding conviction that God in-
tends to convert the lieathen world. Upon this subject we are
prone to be skeptical. We are staggered by the greatness of the
\vork, by the smallness of the visible results, and the disproportion
49G MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
of tlie means to the end. We forget that the work is his as well
as ours, that the resources of all the earth belong to him, that
commerce is his agent, and nations are his ministers ; that his
omnipotence is pledged to its accomplishment, and that with him
one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
The consequence is a temporizing, lame performance of mission-
ary duties. Another consequence is, dependence upon the means,
a looking to them and not to God. The missionary spirit is as
much a grace in the heart as it is a virtue in the life. We ought
to do our duty, and leave results with God. Whether they follow
in one or a thousand years, is absolutely, unconditionally, with
Him. Now the sudden and signal death of Mr. Lowiie toas, no
doubt, designed to withdraw our confidence from men and means,
and fix it upon God.
Again, the lukewarmness of the Church — be the cause what it
may — in the cause of missions, must be conceded. May we not,
are we not constrained to believe, liiat Providence intends this
event to arouse the Church to ejfort ! It is a rebuke uttered by
the voice of the Almighty, the blast of a trumpet, which shall wax
louder and louder, until its peals shall awake the dead energies
of Proteslanlism. It is the sign of the Divine anger, hung so
high that all may see it. Under the chastisements of Heaven, let
the spirit of the good man bow down in deep contrition ; but let
his faith revive with elastic power, and display its energies in
every good word and work. — Southern Presbyterian, Feb. 23, 1849.
REMARKS ON THE DEATH OF THE REV. WALTER M. LOWRIE,
By the Rev. A. Alexander, D. D.
The mournful tidings of this disastrous event has sent a pang
of grief to the hearts of thousands in our Church and in our coun-
try. The loss of such a man, and in such a wa};", is, indeed, a
deplorable thing. Christianity was never intended to destroy the
natural feelings of humanity, but to regulate and refine them. In
Holy Scripture we find that the pious gave free indulgence to their
feelings of sorrow, on account of the death of good and great
men. When Abner was treacherousl}'^ murdered by Joab, king
David " lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner ; and
all the people wept. And the king lamented over Abner." So,
also, when the pious king Josiah was slain in the flower of his
age, " All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah: and Jere-
miah lamented for Josiah. And all the singing men and singing
women spake of Josiah in their lamentations." We have, more-
over, in the New Testament an example of the same kind in
the primitive church at Jerusalem, when Stephen, "a man full
of wisdom and of the Holy Ghost," was stoned to death by the
Jews. This man stood conspicuous among the disciples of Christ
REMARKS BY THE REV. DR. A. ALEXANDER. 497
on account of the miraculous gifts with which he was endowed,
and the hol)^ boldness and eloquence with which he defended the
truth, for " being full of faith and power, he did great wonders
and miracles among the people. And his enemies were unable
to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake." But
when confounded in argument, they had recourse to violence, and
cast him out of the city and stoned Stephen, calling on God, and
saying, " Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." And he kneeled
down and cried with a loud voice, "Lord, lay not this sin to
their charge ;" and when he had said this, he fell asleep.
"And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made
great lamentation over him."
Here we lind, that in the early infancy of the Church, good
and useful men were suffered by divine providence to be cut off,
when their services were more needed than they could be at any
future time. God would teach us that he is not dependent on any
instruments for the accomplishment of his purposes. The death
of Stephen, probably, had a mighty effect on the minds of many
who were present ; and from among his bitterest enemies, there
was one whom God had determined to make " a chosen vessel" to
carry the Gospel not only to the Jews, but to a multitude of the
Gentile nations.
And we learn from this part of Sacred Scripture, that God
does not forsake his devoted servants, when surrounded by ene-
mies, and while suffering the agonies of death. Stephen saw
heaven opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand
of God. And he was enabled to die in the full assurance of hope;
and, with his last breath, to imitate his divine Master, by invok-
ing mercy for his murderers. And although we are not permitted
to know in what state of mind our dear young brother met death,
we have good reason to conclude that his covenant God did not
forsake him in that trying hour. Very likely his last breath was
spent in prayers for the salvation of his murderers.
That the death of Mr. Lowrie is a great loss to the Church,
and particularly to the cause of missions, none will doubt. Re-
ligiously educated from his youth, and in a family imbued with
the missionary spirit, he early turned his thoughts to the condition
of the blinded, perishing heathen. With this object in view, he
commenced his theological education. During his whole course,
it is believed, his purpose remained unshaken ; and all his plans
and studies were prosecuted with a direct view to this object.
Possessed of a vigorous and well-balanced mind, and of cheerful,
equable temper, his progress in learning was rapid, and what he
acquired, he retained. With him no time was wasted, for even
his hours of relaxation from severe study were spent in some use-
ful employment.
He was willing to encounter all the dangers of the deleterious.
cUmate of Africa, and would have made that dark region the^
field of his labors, had it not appeared to all his friends that he-
32
498 I\IF,]\IOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
was eminently qualified for the China mission, that great country
having unexpectedly been opened for the preaching of the Gospel.
Our young brother accordingly embarked for that important field;
but before his station was finally chosen, he met with extraordi-
nary difficulties and dangers. In one of his voyages he was ship-
wrecked ; the vessel was abandoned at sea, and the crew and
himself were exposed to a rough sea, in an open boat, for many
days ; and when they approached the shore, were, by a mani-
fest interposition of providence, enabled to land, when at almost
any other time their boat must have been swamped.
Since his arrival in China, he devoted himself assiduously to the
acquisition of the very difficult language of the country ; and there
is reason to believe with uncommon success. But not contented
merely to acquire the language, he deemed it very important to
make himself acquainted with the literature, and especially with
what may be termed the classical literature of the Chinese. From
communications received in this country, there is reason to think
that he was making rapid progress in this species of knowledge.
Besides the acquisition of the provincial dialect of Niiigpo, where
he had his station, he had formed the purpose of learning the Man-
chu Tartar language, which differs from that of China in that an
alphabetical character is used ; and it is understood that this is
becoming more and more popular, and from its superior conve-
nience, will probably prevail. From these and other considera-
tions it is evident that our Church and the cause of missions has
experienced a great loss in the death of Mr. Lowrie. It ought to
be mentioned, also, that with other missionaries, he was, v\4ien
called away, earnestly engaged in revising and correcting the ver-
sion of the New Testament into the Chinese tongue. For this
work he was eminently qualified by his learning, and by his nice
discrimination and turn for accuracy in matters of this kind.
When sent for to Ningpo, he had been for between two and three
months at Shanghai, engaged with Bishop Boone, Dr. Bridgeman
and others in this work.
It is, then, neither unreasonable nor unscriptural that great
lamentation should be made on account of his death. Though
none can be expected to experience the same kind and degree of
grief as his venerable father and near kindred, yet many others
deeply sympathize with them in their lamentations ; and it may
be presumed none have felt this stroke more pungently than his
brethren of the mission. To them the bereavement is indeed
great and lamentable. But this feeling is not confined to the
missionaries of the Presbyterian church ; others will feel sorely
that a heavy judgment has fallen upon them. This is manifest
from the affectionate and excellent letter of Bishop Boone to Mr.
Lowrie's father. He says : " This event has thrown my family, who
had the privilege toenjoy his company for the last two months and
a half, into the deepest aflliction. Dearly as I know he was be-
loved by the mission with which he was connected, yet, I believe,
REMARKS BY THE REV. DR. A. ALEXANDER. 499
no one in China mourns his loss as I do." And no doubt the
same feeHng pervades the whole of the missionaries who have had
any opportunity of acquaintance with our departed brother.
We may, therefore, lament the death of such a man. so beloved,
and so well qualified to be useful in the most important work
which is going on in this world. But though we are permitted to
sorrow, yet not to repine. When Aaron's impious sons were struck
dead in the sanctuary, " he held his peace ;" he uttered no com-
plaint. And when Eli heard the prophet's prediction respecting
the judgment about to be inflicted on his wicked sons, he said, "It
is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good." Perfect sub-
mission is consistent with the most heart-felt sorrow. Indeed, the
deeper the grief, the more virtuous the submission.
This event, I think, is a solemn call of Providence to our whole
Church. It is evidently a token of the displeasure of our heavenly
Father. God, by thus taking away one of the most eminent of
our missionary corps, evidently calls the Presbyterian church to a
solemn consideration of their ways ; to an earnest inquiry whether,
as a body, we have done our duty ; and especially in relation to
China. Some twenty years ago, the writer heard a speaker at a
missionary meeting in Philadelphia, say, "If a hundred missiona-
ries should now enter China, at different points, and every one of
them should immediately be put to death, this would be a cheap
sacrifice, if thereby that populous country should be opened for the
preaching of the Gospel." At that time, the most sanguine did
not dare to hope for such an event in their day. But God, by a
wonderful Providence, has set the door wide open. Not merely
one, but five great cities are made accessible, and the right of resi-
dence and Christian worship secured by treaty. In consequence,
a number of the most promising and best educated men offered
their services, and were sent. But did the Church appreciate the
importance of this extraordinary dispensation of Providence ? Did
she arouse herself from her long sleep, and come to the help of the
Lord against the mighty ; did she enlarge her spirit of liberality,
and begin to wrestle with God in fervent, incessant prayer for this
empire, which contains one third of the population of the globe?
She did not. Had it not been for the generous donation of a few
individuals, the Board would not have been able to send out the
promising men who offered. And even now, there exists a gen-
eral apathy. A few churches and a few individuals seem to be
sensible of the solemn, responsible circumstances in which we who
live in this age are placed. Professors of religion are too gener-
ally occupied with their own concerns ; every one is attending to
his farm or his merchandise ; few have any deep feeling for the
ark of God. Each one will build and decorate his own house,
while the house of God is desolate.
Let the churches, then, consider this awful dispensation, as one
in which they have a deep concern. Let the solenm inquiry be
made in all our churches, and through all our borders, whether
500 MEMOIR OF WALTER M. LOWRIE.
they have not been dehnquent in their duty to the missionaries in
China. Yea, let, every individual ask himself, Have I done my
duty ? Have I remembered daily, as I ought, those devoted men?
Have I borne them feelingly on my heart to the throne of grace ?
Have I given as liberally of my substance to promote this object
as I ought? Such inquiries, honestly made, would, I believe,
bring conviction home to almost every bosom. What, then, shall
be the result ? Having done amiss, is it our solemn purpose, by
the help of the Lord, to do so no more ? Let us, then, take words
and return unto the Lord who hath smitten us. "Let the priests
weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say. spare thy
people, O Lord."
If it should please our heavenly Father to make this distressing
bereavement the means of awakening all our churches to the sol-
emn consideration of their duty, as it relates to missions in gen-
eral, and to China in particular, then will this sore judgment be
turned into mercy. Let all the friends of Zion wrestle with God
until he grant this result. Let them say, " For Zion's sake I will
not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be silent,
until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the sal-
vation thereof as a lamp that burneth." Such importunity is never
offensive. Jacob said to the Angel of the Covenant, " 1 will not
let thee go until thou bless me." And God commands us "to give
him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise
in the earth." Let every true Presbyterian resolve that, during
the year, now commenced, he will bear on his heart before the
throne of grace, the perishing condition of the heathen, and the
wants of our foreign missionaries, with far greater frequency and
fervency than during the year which is past. And, as our mission-
aries may be recalled unless funds are provided by the Church for
their support, let every man, and woman, and child consider whether
God does not require of them to do much more in the way of con-
tribution than they have heretofore done ; and see whether, from
the very day from which you commence a new course, God will
not bless you in a special manner. " Bring ye all the tithes into
the storehouse that there ma}^ be meat in mine house, and prove
rae now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you
the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there
shall not be room enough to receive it." Mai. iii. 10. — Missionary
Chronicle: February, 1848.
THE
REV. WALTER M. LOWRIE,
A MISSIONAP.Y
V
THE CHINESE.
Born Feb. 18th, 1819.
Died Aug. 19th, 1847.
« I am a Stranger In the Earth."— Ps. cxix. 19.
SECOND SIDE.
IN CHINESE.
The American teacher of the religion of Jesus, Low-le-wha, Seen Sang,
[i. e. Mr. Lowrie.] Born in [the reign of] Kea-King, 24th year, 1st month,
26th day. Died in [tlie reign of] Taou-Kvvang, 27th year, Yth month,
9th day. Reckoning back in [the reign of] Taou-Kwang, the 22d year,
4th montli, 18th day, he arrived at Macao, China. The 25th year, 3d
month, 5tli day, he reached Ningpo; in order to propagate the holy re-
ligion. How can we know whether a long or a short life is appointed for
us ? He had but attained the age of twenty-nine years, when, travelling
by sea, he was drowned by pirates. Of all his associates there is none
who does not cherish his memory, and they have accordingly erected this
stone as a testimony of their affection.
THIRD SIDE.
He was attacked by pirates near Chapoo, and being thrown overboard,
perished in the sea.
FOURTH SIDE.
IN CHINESE.
The Holy Book says — It is appointed unto man once to die, and after
this the judgment, for the hour is coming in which all that are in the
graves shall hear the voice of the Son of Grod, and shall come forth, they
that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done
evil unto the resurrection of damnation.
The shaft is 4 feet 6 inches high ; 2 feet Y inches wide at the bottom,
and 1 foot 9 inches at the top. The stone is a hard and smooth kind of
granite, capable of a tolerable polish.
SECOND SIDE.
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